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J. Smart & Co. Contractors PLC

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FY2017 Annual Report · J. Smart & Co. Contractors PLC
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J. SMART & CO. (CONTRACTORS) PLC 

ANNUAL REPORT 
AND 
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 
TO 
31s t JULY 2017

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

DIRECTORS 
DaviD W Smart, Chairman and Joint Managing Director
John r Smart, Joint Managing Director
alaSDair h roSS
Patricia Sweeney

COMPANY SECRETARY 
Patricia Sweeney 

REGISTERED OFFICE 
28 cramonD roaD South, 
eDinburgh, 
eh4 6ab

SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES 
mcGowan anD comPany (contractorS) limiteD 
cramonD real eState comPany limiteD 
thomaS menzieS (builDerS) limiteD 
concrete ProDuctS (KirKcalDy) limiteD 
c. & w. aSSetS limiteD
Smart ServiceD officeS limiteD 

REGISTRARS AND TRANSFER OFFICE 
equiniti limiteD, 
34 South gyle creScent, 
South gyle buSineSS ParK, 
eDinburgh, 
eh12 9eb

BANKERS 
banK of ScotlanD, 
75 george Street, 
eDinburgh, 
eh2 3ew

AUDITOR 
french Duncan lLP, 
chartereD accountantS, 
133 finnieSton Street, 
glaSgow, 
g3 8hb 

SOLICITORS 
anDerSon Strathern llP, 
1 rutlanD court, 
eDinburgh, 
eh3 8ey

1

 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Company will be held at the Registered 
Ofice, 28 Cramond Road South, Edinburgh on 14th December 2017 at 12 noon, for the following purposes: 

1.  To receive and consider the Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31st July 2017 and the Report of the Directors 

and the Independent Auditor’s Report.

2.  To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Policy as set out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 20 to 22 

in the Annual Report.

3.  To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the inancial year ended 31st July 2017 as set out on pages 20 to 

25 in the Annual Report.

4.  To declare a Final Dividend of 2.17p per share. 

5.  To re-elect Alasdair H Ross as a Director, who retires in accordance with provision B.7.1 of the UK Corporate 

Governance Code. 

6.  To re-elect Patricia Sweeney as a Director, who being appointed in the year, retires in accordance with provision 

B.7.1 of the UK Corporate Governance Code.

7.  To re-elect French Duncan LLP as Auditor. 

8.  To authorise the Directors to determine the remuneration of the Auditor. 

9.  To authorise the Company, via a special resolution, for the purposes of section 701 of the Companies Act 2006 to make 
market purchases (as deined in section 693(4) of the Companies Act 2006) of its ordinary shares of 2p each (ordinary 
shares) provided that:
(a) 

the Company does not purchase under this authority more than 10% of the nominal value of the Company’s issued 
share capital at the date of this notice;
the minimum price which the Company may pay for each ordinary share is 2p (exclusive of expenses); and
the maximum price which the Company may pay for each ordinary share is the higher of:
(i) 

105% (exclusive of expenses) of the average market value of the Company’s equity shares for the ive 
business days prior to the day the purchase is made according to the Daily Oficial List of the London 
Stock Exchange; and
the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid for an ordinary 
share on the trading venue where the purchase is carried out.

(b) 
(c) 

(ii)  

  This authority is to apply until the end of the next Annual General Meeting (or, if earlier, until the close of business 
on 14th February 2019) but the Company may enter into a contract to purchase ordinary shares which will or may be 
completed  or  executed  wholly  or  partly  after  this  authority  ends,  the  Company  may  purchase  these  ordinary  shares 
pursuant to any contract as if the authority had not ended. Under this authority any shares purchased by the Company will 
be cancelled.

10. To transact any other business of an Annual General Meeting. 

Explanatory notes providing information in relation to each of the proposed resolutions in this Notice of Meeting can be 
found on the Company’s website www.jsmart.co.uk.

A  member  entitled  to  attend  and  vote  at  this  Meeting  is  entitled  to  appoint  one  or  more  proxies  to  attend 
and  vote  on  a  poll  instead  of  him/her.  A  proxy  need  not  be  a  member.  Forms  of  proxy,  if  used,  must  be 
lodged  with  the  Registrars  of  the  Company  at  least  48  hours  before  the  time  ixed  for  the  Meeting.  Forms  of 
proxy  may  also  be  lodged  electronically  by  submitting  a  duly  completed  scanned  copy  of  the  proxy  card  to  
proxy.votes@equiniti.com. You may not use the electronic address provided either in this Notice of Meeting or any related 
documents (including the Form of Proxy) to communicate with the Company for any purpose other than that expressly stated. 

In accordance with section 311A of the Companies Act 2006, the contents of this Notice of Meeting, details of the total 
number  of  shares  in  respect  of  which  members  are  entitled  to  exercise  voting  rights  at  the Annual  General  Meeting  
and,  if  applicable,  any  members’  statements,  members’  resolutions  or  members’  matters  of  business  received  by  the 
Company after the date of this Notice will be available on the Company’s website. 

2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

Pursuant to section 319A of the Companies Act 2006, the Company must cause to be answered at the Annual General 
Meeting any question relating to the business being dealt with at the Annual General Meeting which is put by a member 
attending the meeting, except in certain circumstances, including if it is undesirable in the interests of the Company or 
the good order of the Meeting that the question be answered or if to do so would involve the disclosure of conidential 
information.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 
Patricia Sweeney
Company Secretary

28 Cramond Road South,
Edinburgh
EH4 6AB 

14th November 2017 

3

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

CHAIRMAN’S REVIEW 

ACCOUNTS

Headline Group proit for the year before tax, including an unrealised surplus in revalued property and a proit on the unforeseen 
sale of property, was £4,037,000 compared with £3,752,000 last year.

As forecast underlying proit before tax for the year of £3,423,000 (including £613,000 proit from property sales) was less 
than last year’s igure of £3,616,000 (including £186,000 proit from property sales). In our view discounting the increase in the 
revaluation of the commercial property portfolio provides a truer relection of Group performance.

The Board is recommending a Final Dividend of 2.17p making a total of 3.12p which compares with 3.07p for the previous year. 
The Final Dividend will cost the Company no more than £973,000.

TRADING ACTIVITIES

Group construction activities including private residential sales decreased by 17%. Own work capitalised increased by 55% 
and headline Group proit increased by 8%. If you disregard the unexpected property sale headline Group proit would have 
decreased by 9%. Underlying Group proit decreased by 5%.

Turnover in contracting was less than last year and the loss was increased. As forecast private residential sales were less than the 
previous year. Sales in precast concrete manufacture have increased marginally, but proit has decreased.

The two large mixed social housing and private residential developments at Seaield Street and Pilton Drive, Edinburgh are now 
complete. The social housing contracts at Fleming Place, Edinburgh continue to make progress, but will be fully complete by 
April 2018. A further social housing contract at Ferrymuir, South Queensferry is to commence by April 2018, but this is by no 
means certain due to the continuing and unwelcome drawn out statutory approval process.

A mixed private housing and affordable housing development at West Bowling Green Street, Edinburgh started after the inancial 
year end, will provide 98 residential units and 4 commercial units. First completions will not be achieved during the current 
inancial year.

The occupancy levels at our industrial estates, especially in the smaller size bracket, continue to be robust. We have inally 
encountered rental growth across all sizes of industrial units. This has partly been caused by a dearth of new build industrial 
development exacerbated in the Edinburgh area by a lack of industrial land supply.

The second phases at Inchwood Park, Bathgate and West Edinburgh Business Park, South Gyle, Edinburgh are progressing well 
and letting prospects are encouraging. The joint venture industrial development at Gartcosh, near Glasgow, has been delayed, 
but is still likely to proceed.

The voids in our ofice properties were reduced by the sale of CityWest, Robertson Avenue, Edinburgh. We launched a serviced 
ofice centre at our multi-let ofice building at Links Place, Leith, Edinburgh with our new subsidiary company, Smart Serviced 
Ofices Limited. This has taken time to let but has assisted in attracting tenants to other vacant suites in the building.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Work in hand in contracting, as alluded to above, is considerably less than last year. All of our contracting work, in the Housing 
Association sector, in the past ive years has been site acquisition led and due to increasing land values opportunities in this 
regard have decreased. This, coupled with a highly competitive tender market, means the likelihood of future contracting work 
in this sector does not look promising at present.

There will be no private housing sales this year. Property valuation levels have improved since last year, but it remains to be seen 
if this trend will continue. Planning applications will be submitted this year for a residential development at Rosyth and a third 
phase of industrial development at West Edinburgh Business Park.

Due to reduced turnover, which will impact on the recovery of ixed overhead costs, and the cost of redundancies it is likely that 
underlying proit will be less than this year’s underlying proit.

Finally, I would like to pay tribute to the previous Chairman, John M Smart, who served your company for 50 years, 39 as a 
Director, 32 as Joint Managing Director/Managing Director and 29 as Chairman. He presided over an almost unbroken record 
of proit for your company. We all wish him well for a long and happy retirement.

14th November 2017 

4

DaviD W Smart
Chairman

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS 

31st JULY 2017 

The  Directors  present  their  Annual  Report  and  the  audited  inancial  statements  of  the  Group  for  the  year  ended  
31st July 2017.

STRATEGIC REPORT

The Companies Act 2006 requires the Directors to prepare a Strategic Report which presents a fair review of the business 
during the year to 31st July 2017 and of the position of the Group at the end of the inancial year.  The Strategic Report 
also includes a description of the principal risks and uncertainties faced by the Group.  The Strategic Report can be found 
on pages 9 to 14 and is incorporated into the Report of the Directors by reference.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The Company is required, as a premium listed company on the London Stock Exchange, to prepare a report on Corporate 
Governance  in  accordance  with  the  Financial  Reporting  Council’s  UK  Corporate  Governance  Code  (the  Code).   The 
information required by the Code and also the Disclosure and Transparency Rules and the Listing Rules can be found on 
pages 16 to 19 and is incorporated into the Report of the Directors by reference.

RESULTS AND DIVIDENDS

The proit of the Group after tax for the year ended 31st July 2017 amounted to £3,727,000 (2016, £3,488,000).

During the year the Company paid on 21st December 2016 a inal dividend for the year to 31st July 2016 of 2.15p per share 
(2016, 2.10p) and paid on 5th June 2017 an interim dividend for the year to 31st July 2017 of 0.95p per share (2016, 0.92p).

The Directors recommend a proposed inal dividend for the year of 2.17p per share, making a total for the year of 3.12p. 
This inal dividend is subject to approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting in December 2017 and has 
not been included as a liability in these inancial accounts. If this dividend is approved it will be paid to the members on 
the share register of the Company at the close of business on 24th November 2017. Dividend warrants will be posted on 
19th December 2017.

DIRECTORS  

The following were Directors of the Company during the inancial year ended 31st July 2017:

− 

− 

− 

− 

− 

John M Smart (retired 27th April 2017)

David W Smart

John R Smart

Alasdair H Ross

Patricia Sweeney (appointed 26th April 2017)

Details of the Directors are given on page 15.

APPOINTMENT AND REPLACEMENT OF DIRECTORS

The  Company’s Articles  of Association  (the  Company’s Articles)  give  the  Directors  the  power  to  appoint  or  remove 
any  Director.    Initial  appointments  must  be  approved  by  the  Board  of  Directors  but  anyone  so  appointed  must  be  
re-elected by ordinary resolution at the next Annual General Meeting of the Company.  In accordance with the Company’s 
Articles,  Directors  are  not  required  to  retire  by  rotation,  however,  in  accordance  with  provision  B.7.1  of  the  UK 
Corporate  Governance  Code,  with  the  exception  of  the  Chairman,  all  Directors  must  retire  and  offer  themselves  for  
re-election at the Annual General Meeting at least every three years.

5

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS

Details  of  Directors’  interests  in  the  ordinary  share  capital  of  the  Company  are  given  in  the  Directors’  Remuneration 
Report.  There have been no changes in Directors’ interests between 31st July 2017 and 20th October 2017.

Other than the original employment contract Directors received on joining the company, no Director has been issued with 
a Director’s Service Contract on appointment as a director.  No Director has a material interest in any contract to which 
the Company or any Subsidiary Company was a party to during the year.

DIRECTORS’ POWERS

The Company’s Articles states that the Directors may exercise all of the powers of the Company which also includes the 
right of the Directors to buy back the Company’s shares based on the authority given by the shareholders following the 
passing of a special resolution at the Company’s 2016 Annual General Meeting.

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS

In accordance with the Company’s Articles and to the extent permitted by law, Directors are granted an indemnity by the 
Company in respect of liabilities incurred as a result of their ofice.  The Directors are also indemniied against the cost 
of defending any proceedings whether criminal or civil in which judgement is given in favour of the Director or in which 
the Director is acquitted or the charge is found not proven.  The Company has maintained Directors’ and Oficers’ liability 
insurance cover throughout the inancial year.

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AND SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

The  capital  structure  of  the  Company  consists  of  issued  share  capital,  reserves  and  retained  earnings  represented 
predominantly by investment properties, working capital and cash.

The Company’s issued ordinary share capital as at 31st July 2017 comprises a single class of ordinary share of 2p each.  
Details of the issued share capital are shown in note 22 to the Accounts.

At the Annual General Meeting in 2016 the Company was authorised by the shareholders to purchase, in the market, up 
to 10% of the Company’s issued share capital, as permitted under the Company’s Articles.  The purpose of the market 
purchase is to enhance the earnings per share and/or the equity shareholders’ funds per share.  The Directors are seeking 
renewal of this authority at the 2017 Annual General Meeting.

During the year the Company made market purchases of 500,000 ordinary shares of 2p under the existing authority, for a 
total consideration of £550,000.  The shares purchased were subsequently cancelled, and represented less than 2% of the 
Company’s issued share capital at the start of the inancial year.

All members who hold ordinary shares are entitled to attend and vote at a General Meeting. On a show of hands at a 
General Meeting every member present in person and every duly appointed proxy shall have one vote and on a poll, every 
member present in person or by proxy shall have one vote for every ordinary share held or represented.  The Company is 
not aware of any agreements between shareholders that may result in restrictions on voting rights of shareholders.  Rights 
attached to ordinary shares may only be varied by special resolution at a General Meeting.

There are no speciic restrictions on the transfer of securities in the Company, other than those imposed by prevailing 
legislation and the requirements of the Listing Rules in respect of Company Directors.  The Company is not aware of any 
agreements between shareholders that may result in restrictions on the transfer of securities.

Details of substantial shareholders can be found in the Company’s Corporate Governance Report.

6

7

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

The Company’s Articles can only be amended by a special resolution at a General Meeting.  No amendments are proposed 
to be made to the existing Company Articles at the 2017 Annual General Meeting.

CHANGE OF CONTROL

The Company is not party to any signiicant agreements which take effect, alter or terminate upon change of control of 
the Company following a takeover bid.  The Company does not have any agreements with any Director or employee that 
would provide compensation for loss of ofice or employment, whether through resignation, purported redundancy or 
otherwise resulting from a takeover bid.

POLITICAL DONATIONS AND POLITICAL EXPENDITURE

It is the policy of the Group not to make donations for political purposes to EU Political Parties or incur EU Political 
Expenditure and accordingly neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries made donations or incurred such expenditure in 
the year.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

The  Companies Act  2006  (Strategic  Report  and  Directors’  Report)  Regulation  2013  requires  all  quoted  companies  to 
report the greenhouse gas emissions for which they are responsible and on any environmental matters which are material 
to the company’s operations.

Carbon emissions and energy use:

Emissions from: 
Combustion of fuel and operation of facilities 
Electricity, heat, steam and cooling purchased for own use 
.   
Total emissions 

.   

. 

. 

. 

.   
.   
.   

. 
. 
. 

Group’s chosen intensity measurement: 
Emissions reported above normalised to per full time equivalent employee 
Emissions reported above normalised to per £million of revenues  

. 

2017 
Tonnes of CO2e 

2016
Tonnes of CO2e

1,530 
323 
1,853 

7.127     
81.059   

1,412
329
1,741

5.842
59.979

Changes in the total greenhouse gas emissions by the Group over the year are a result of changes in the mix of construction 
activities, contributing to the increase in emissions from fuel combustion and the decrease in emissions from purchased 
electricity.

A decrease in staff within construction activities has increased the greenhouse gas emissions per employee metric and the 
decrease in revenue from construction activities has increased the emissions normalised by revenue.

We have reported on all the emission sources required under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors’ 
Report) Regulations 2013. These sources fall within our Statement of Accounts. We do not have responsibility for any 
emission sources that are not included in our Statement of Accounts.

Our  greenhouse  gas  emissions  have  been  calculated  using  the  GHG  Protocol  Corporate  Accounting  and  Reporting 
Standard (revised edition), data gathered to fulil our requirements under these Regulations, and emission factors from the 
UK Government’s GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting 2016 and 2017 for the respective years. Emissions 
are calculated on the location based methodology.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

We  manage  waste  in  accordance  with  the  waste  hierarchy  and  ensure  compliance  with  all  applicable  environmental 
legislation across all our operations. Construction waste is managed through site waste management plans which ensure 
waste arising is minimised, reused or recycled. Waste reduction is considered at the building design stage and any waste 
arising in construction is segregated either on site or off site.  Where possible, waste is reused on site and waste to landill 
is minimised with preference given to recycling or energy recovery. Training is provided to all staff and subcontractors 
and waste champions are assigned to each site to ensure compliance with our waste policies and procedures.

7

 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

GOING CONCERN

The Group’s business activities, performance and principal risks and uncertainties are set out in the Strategic Report.

The  Group  has  adequate  inancial  resources  and  is  not  reliant  on  external  funding,  and  the  Directors  believe  that  the 
Group is well placed to manage its business risks successfully.  After making enquires, the Directors have a reasonable 
expectation that the Company and Group have adequate inancial resources to allow the Company and Group to continue 
in  operational  existence  for  the  foreseeable  future  and  therefore  considers  the  adoption  of  the  going  concern  basis  as 
appropriate for the preparation of the Annual Report and Statement of Accounts.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

It  is  not  anticipated  that  the  activities  of  the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries,  as  described  in  the  Strategic  Report,  will 
substantially change in the immediate future.

POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS

There have been no events occurring after the Balance Sheet date that the Directors consider should be brought to the 
attention of the shareholders.

AUDITOR

The Company’s auditor, French Duncan LLP, has expressed willingness to continue in ofice.  Resolutions to re-appoint 
them as the Company’s auditor and to authorise the Directors to determine their remuneration will be proposed at the 
Company’s forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT 

The Chairman’s Review on page 4 and the Strategic Report on pages 9 to 14 have been prepared to provide additional 
information to members of the Company to assess the Group’s strategy and the potential for the strategy to succeed.  It 
should not be relied on by any other party or for any other purpose.

This  Annual  Report  and  Statement  of  Accounts  contain  certain  forward-looking  statements  relating  to  operations, 
performance and inancial status.  By their nature, such statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events 
and depend upon circumstances that will occur in the future.  There are a number of factors, including both economic and 
business risk factors that could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied 
by these forward-looking statements.  These statements are made by the Directors in good faith based on the information 
available to them up to the time of their approval of this Report.

STATEMENT OF DISCLOSURE TO AUDITOR 

The Directors who held ofice at the date of approval of the Report of the Directors, conirm that, so far as they are each 
aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company’s Auditor is unaware; and each of the Directors has 
taken all steps that they ought to have taken as a Director to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and 
to establish that the Company’s Auditor is aware of that information. 

14th November 2017 

8

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Patricia Sweeney
Company Secretary

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

STRATEGIC REPORT 

31st JULY 2017

The Directors present their Strategic Report of the Group for the year ended 31st July 2017.

The purpose of the Strategic Report is to provide the members of the Company with information to allow them to assess 
how the Directors have performed their duty to promote the success of the Company and Group.

OUR BUSINESS MODEL, STRATEGY AND OBJECTIVES

The Company was established in 1947 and was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1965.

The principal activities of the Group are building and civil engineering contracting, residential development for sale, the 
development of industrial and commercial property for lease, the manufacture of hydraulically pressed concrete products, 
and the provision of serviced ofice spaces.  All the construction work involved in these activities is carried out by the 
Company and its Subsidiaries.  Sub-contracting is kept to a minimum.  The main area of operations is the central belt of 
Scotland. 

The main construction activity undertaken by the Group is that of social housing for several housing associations and 
registered  social  landlords  predominately  in  the  Edinburgh  area  and  is  undertaken  by  the  Company,  J.  Smart  &  Co. 
(Contractors) PLC.

The  Group  has  a  portfolio  of  self-inanced  industrial  and  commercial  properties  which  are  owned  and  managed  by 
subsidiary  company,  C.  &  W. Assets  Limited.    The  investment  properties  are  located  throughout  the  central  belt  of 
Scotland but primarily in the Edinburgh area, this being the area of the country we are familiar with and understand.  Our 
portfolio currently extends to more than 1,000,000 sq ft.

The Group has ive other subsidiaries. Thomas Menzies (Builders) Limited carries out small to medium sized building 
and civil engineering work for a variety of clients.  McGowan and Company (Contractors) Limited provides plumbing 
support to the main construction companies.  Concrete Products (Kirkcaldy) Limited manufactures hydraulically pressed 
concrete products sold to the trade.  Cramond Real Estate Company Limited, is the investment holding company of the 
Group and holds the Group’s equity investments and monies on bank deposits.  Smart Serviced Ofices Limited which 
trades as Foxglove Ofices provides serviced ofice spaces in Leith.

The Group also has interests in a number of Joint Venture Companies which were established for purposes of property 
development.

The Group operates out of premises in Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy, with the centralised administration and inance function 
being at the head ofice in Edinburgh.  Full support is given by the company Directors and the inance staff to all Group 
companies based at the two locations.

We maintain a core employee base which is beneicial to the growth and success of the Group due to the fact that they have 
the expertise to ensure the construction activities of the Group are eficiently run, achieve high level of quality of work 
and retain control over operations.  Employees who manage the Group’s investment property portfolio are fully aware of 
current market conditions and ensure that there is appropriate marketing of the Group’s investment property portfolio.  We 
employ our own maintenance team thereby ensuring that our investment property portfolio is always in good condition 
and ready for let. 

Our objectives are to identify and exploit promising business opportunities as they arise to the beneit of the Group, its 
shareholders and employees without over extending Group resources.  While endeavouring to complete all our operations 
as eficiently and to as high a standard as possible we do not set ourselves general performance yardsticks or volumetric 
targets.

8

9

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

STRATEGIC REPORT (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

OUR BUSINESS MODEL, STRATEGY AND OBJECTIVES (continued) 

To achieve these objectives our strategy is to continue to maintain and develop the relationships we have with social housing 
providers and develop relationships with new and existing partners to establish new areas of construction opportunities, 
retain our core workforce and only use specialist subcontractors with proven track records in the Group to ensure work 
quality.  We will continue to build both our residential properties and investment property portfolio within the central belt 
of Scotland, being the area of the country with which we are familiar.  We will build up our resources to ensure the Group 
has suficient current working capital facilities and inancing for future commercial and private residential developments.

In achieving our objectives we aim to generate value by creating long-term and sustainable returns for our shareholders 
by growing our income and proits and increasing the value of our investment portfolio and the net assets of the Group.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW

Construction activities

Revenue  
Operating loss  

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

2017  
£000) 
25,419) 
(673) 

        2016
        £000
     30,682)
(102)

Turnover in construction activities decreased in the year mainly due to the fact that there was considerably less revenue 
from our private residential development than in the previous year.  At the start of the current year there were only four 
properties to be sold and all these sales occurred in the year.

During the year we completed two of our large mixed social housing developments which has also contributed to the 
decrease in turnover.  We continued construction at two smaller social housing developments but no new developments 
commenced in the year.

During the year we commenced construction of Phase 2 at two of our industrial developments which accounted for the 
increase in own work capitalised.

The  decrease  in  construction  turnover  has  impacted  on  the  recovery  of  ixed  overheads  and  together  with  the  loss 
provisions on current contracts has resulted in the loss from construction activities increasing in the year.

The  Directors  continue  to  monitor,  on  a  monthly  basis,  all  construction  contracts  currently  underway  with  regards  to 
costs incurred and the proitability of the contract. The Directors also monitor the level of ixed overheads with a view to 
minimising these where possible.

Investment activities

. 
Income from investment properties . 
Proit on sale of investment properties 
. 
Net surplus on valuation of investment properties  
. 
Operating proit from investment properties 

. 
. 

Income from available for sale inancial assets 
. 
Proit on sale of available for sale inancial assets . 

Share of proits in Joint Ventures 

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

.  
.   
.   
. 

.    
. 

.    

. 
. 
. 
.  

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

2017  
£000  
6,090) 
613) 
614) 
4,519) 

        2016
        £000
       5,520)
186)
136)
          3,616)

32) 
22) 

42) 

          14)
              –)

       33)

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

10

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

STRATEGIC REPORT (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

PERFORMANCE REVIEW (continued)

Investment activities (continued)

Income  from  the  Group’s  investment  property  portfolio  continues  to  increase,  mainly  due  to  increased  occupancy  in 
both our industrial and commercial properties but also due to increased rental values.  Occupancy levels in our industrial 
properties continue to be satisfactory with interest continuing to be shown in our vacant properties.  Although the voids 
in our commercial properties still remain high the overall level of these voids has reduced due to the sale of one of our 
commercial properties in the year and new tenants taking occupancy in the year.

Other than the sale of one of our commercial properties there have been no other movements in our investment property 
portfolio this year.  The Group is currently undertaking the construction of the next phases at two of our current industrial 
developments which will be completed prior to the end of the next inancial year.  Letting prospects in these new phases 
are encouraging.  The Group continues to refurbish and improve the existing portfolio of properties to ensure that they are 
of a standard expected of existing and new tenants.

Property valuations continue to improve and the surplus on the valuation of investment properties accounted for this year 
in the Income Statement was higher than that recognised last year.

The increased revenue, surplus on valuation of investment properties and the proit earned on the sale of the investment 
property have resulted in the increase in the proit earned.

During the year the Group added to its portfolio of available for sale inancial assets and this has resulted in the increase 
in the level of income from these assets.  Also during the year there were disposals of assets which resulted in a proit 
being earned.

The Group’s share of proits in Joint Ventures continues to increase and are considered to be of a reasonable level.

Results and financial position

Proit before tax 
Net bank position 
Net assets 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

  . 
 .  
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

2017 
£000 
4,037 
20,269 
93,858 

2016
£000
3,752
19,676
88,836

Although the Group has reported a higher proit before tax than last year this has been due to the increase in proit earned 
by the investment activities of the Group.  The Group loss suffered in construction activities has increased this year due 
to the reduced level of turnover, and the impact of recovery of overheads.

Our net bank position, which comprises monies held on deposit, cash and cash equivalents and the netting of our bank 
overdraft, has improved only slightly this year.  Although the proit before tax position has increased and this has been 
relected through to the cash lows from operating activities this money has been utilised for purchase of own shares and 
the dividends paid in the year.  The proceeds received from the sale of our commercial property have all but matched 
the monies spent by the Group on expenditure on property, plant and equipment, the construction of new investment 
properties and the purchase of new available for sale inancial assets.  The Group continues to remain debt free.

The  Group’s  net  assets  are  impacted  by  the  proit  earned  in  the  year,  the  movement  in  the  valuation  of  the  Group’s 
available for sale inancial assets, the increase in the Group’s retirement beneit surplus which was mainly due to the 
actuarial gain recognised in the year, net of the shares bought back in the year and the dividends paid to shareholders.

10

11

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

STRATEGIC REPORT (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Group’s inancial instruments consist of bank balances and cash, available for sale inancial assets, trade receivables 
and trade payables. The main purpose of the inancial instruments are to provide working capital for the Group’s continuing 
activities and provide funding for future activities whether in construction or investment. Given the nature of the Group’s 
inancial instruments the main risk associated with these is credit risk, however this is minimised due to the fact that 
exposure is spread over a number of counterparties and customers. The Group is not exposed to interest rate risk as it 
does not have any net debt but it does suffer from fallen interest rates on the amount we can earn on monies on deposit.

TOTAL DIVIDEND

The  Directors  are  recommending  a  inal  dividend  of  2.17p  per  share  which  taken  with  the  interim  dividend  of  0.95p 
already paid in the year gives a total dividend for the year of 3.12p (2016, 3.07p), being an increase of 2% on the dividend 
rate for 2016.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

The Group is required to report the greenhouse gas emissions for which it is responsible and on any environmental matters 
which are material to the Group’s operations.  Details of our emissions for the year to 31st July 2017 are set out in the 
Report of the Directors on page 7.

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The principal risks and uncertainties faced by the Group and the mitigating factors taken by the Group against these risks 
are detailed below.  The principal risks noted below are not all of the risks faced by the Group but are those risks which 
the Group perceives as those which could have a signiicant impact on the Group’s performance and future prospects.

Area of principal risk or uncertainty 
and impact 

By  focusing  external  construction 
activities in the social housing sector, 
which 
is  a  competitive  market, 
failure  to  win  new  contracts  would 
impact  on  our  volume  of  work  and 
therefore  the  workforce  required  by 
the Group.

availability 

Decline  in  home  buyer  conidence 
and 
affordable 
mortgages  resulting  in  stalling  of 
private house sales. 

of 

Mitigating actions and controls 

•  Maintain  long  term  relationships  with  social  housing  providers,  resulting 
from  high  standards  of  service,  quality  and  post  construction  care  thus 
giving  the  Group  an  advantage  over  other  builders  when  contracts  are 
awarded on criteria other than cost only. 

•  Identify potential build sites or include the provider within private housing 
developments in relation to the element of affordable housing required.  
•  When workload is reduced workforce can be diverted to the Group’s own 

commercial and private residential developments.

•  Continue  to  acquire  land  for  development  for  either  private  housing 
developments or for resale to social housing providers as part of a construction 
contract.

•  Develop new areas of construction activities.
•  Develop new joint venture opportunities. 

•  Providing a range of purchase assistance schemes to buyers.
•  Building developments in popular residential areas.
•  Building high quality speciication homes with attention to detail which sets 
them apart from other new build homes and therefore attractive to buyers.
•  Building a range of homes within a development thus providing choice to 

buyers.

•  Providing sales incentives.
•  Consider letting of homes at market rates until the market improves.

12

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

STRATEGIC REPORT (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES (continued)

Area of principal risk or uncertainty 
and impact

Social housing sector and in general 
is  highly 
the  housing  market 
competitive with tight margins.

Reduction 
in  rental  demand  for 
investment properties may result in a 
fall in property valuations. 

Reduction  in  demand  for  UK  real 
estate  from  investors  may  result  in  a 
fall in valuations within our investment 
property portfolio, this could result in 
delays  in  investment  decisions  which 
could impact on our activities.

Political  events  and  policies  result 
in  uncertainty  until  inal  decisions 
have  been  made  and  the  impact  of 
decisions are known, this could result 
in  delays  in  investment  decisions 
which could impact on our activities.

Reduction of inancial resources.

Mitigating actions and controls 

•  We  are  an  ‘all  trades’  contractor  who  employs  our  own  personnel  in  all 
basic building trades who are supervised by site agents who are long serving 
employees of the Group, who have been promoted through their trades, thus 
ensuring control of labour costs on contracts.

•  We have invested heavily in plant and the maintenance thereof and therefore 
limit our costs on contracts by utilising own plant as opposed to incurring 
higher costs of hiring plant.

•  Subcontractors employed by the Group are specialists in their ields and in 
the main subcontractors have previously been used by the Group therefore 
quality of work and reliability is known.  No labour only subcontractors are 
employed.

•  In house architectural technicians and surveyors provide pre-contract design 
advice to resolve potential technical problems with the build and therefore 
potential costs.

•  Only commence speculative developments after careful assessment of the 

market.

•  Restricting our operations to the central belt of Scotland being the area of 

the country with which we are familiar.

•  Continually  maintain  and  refurbish  existing  properties  to  retain  existing 

tenants and attract new tenants.

•  Provide necessary  inancial incentives to retain existing tenants at end of 

current leases and attract new tenants.

•  The Directors regularly review the property market to ascertain if changes 
in the overall market present speciic risks or opportunities to the Group.
•  Restricting our operations to the central belt of Scotland being the area of 

the country with which we are familiar.

•  Before any decisions are taken by the Directors in any area of the Group’s 
activities the level of uncertainty and range of potential outcomes arising 
from political events and policies are considered.

•  Ensure resources are not over committed and only undertake commercial 
and private housing developments after due consideration of the inancial 
impact on the Group inancial resources.

•  Build up resources to ensure the Group has suficient inance for working 
capital  requirements  and  inancing  of  commercial  and  private  housing 
developments.

•  Spread cash reserves over several banks taking account of the strength of 

the bank and interest rates attainable.

•  Invest  resources  in  equities  also  taking  account  of  the  security  of  the 

investment and the yields attainable.

13

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

STRATEGIC REPORT (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

VIABILITY STATEMENT

The Directors have assessed the viability of the Group over a three year period to July 2020, taking account of the Group’s 
current inancial strength, business model and strategy.  The Directors have also taken account of the principal risks and 
uncertainties facing the Group and the actions being taken to mitigate these risks as described above.

The assessment period of three years has been chosen as the Directors consider this period to be appropriate as it its well 
with the Group’s development and investment property cycles.

The  Group’s  inancial  planning  process  consists  of  cash  low  projections  based  on  the  current  inancial  position  and 
assumptions on future developments and investment property acquisitions and disposals.  As the Group is net debt free the 
Directors are assessing the cash impact of their assumptions of future activity to ensure that this position is maintained.  
The Directors vary their assumptions in terms of economic, investment and other factors to different scenarios to assess 
the impact on the Group’s cash position. Even with these sensitivities applied the Group is net debt free.  

Based on this assessment the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group will continue in operation and meet 
its liabilities as they fall due over the period to July 2020.

EMPLOYEES

The Group recognises the contribution of the staff to the success of the Group.  The Group operates with a core employee 
base who in the main have been with the Group for a considerable length of time and have gained a signiicant knowledge 
of the sectors the Group operates in and of the companies within the Group.  Where appropriate the Group promotes from 
within whether that be the Directors, staff or site employees.  The Group recognises the importance of retaining its core 
staff to ensure its future success.

The  Group  does  not  have  a  speciic  Human  Rights  policy  but  it  does  have  policies  on  recruitment  and  retention  of 
employees and communication with employees which are aimed at ensuring employees are fairly treated during their 
employment with the Group.

The Group is committed to providing equal opportunities in recruitment and employment, full and fair consideration is 
given to all applicants for employment and to all existing employees for promotion.  Where employees become disabled 
during their employment and are unable to fulil current duties they are offered suitable alternative employment within 
the Group, if feasible.

It is the Group’s policy that there should be effective communication with employees at all levels, on matters which affect 
their current jobs or future prospects and all Directors and senior staff members make themselves available to all staff 
to discuss any matters of concern.  In achieving this policy, the Directors are aware of the need to take account of the 
practical and commercial considerations of the Group, and the needs of the employees.  

A breakdown by gender of Directors, senior managers and all employees is given below:

Directors 
Senior Managers   
Total Employees   

Male 
      3 
      2 
  246 

Female
         1
          -
       14

14th November 2017 

14

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Patricia Sweeney
Company Secretary

 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

DIRECTORS 

John M Smart, Chairman and Managing Director Aged 73 
Joined the Company in 1967 
Appointed Director in 1978 and appointed Chairman in 1988
Retired as Chairman and Managing Director on 27th April 2017

David W Smart, Chairman and Joint Managing Director Aged 44 
Joined the Company in 1998 
Appointed Director in 2010
Appointed Chairman and Joint Managing Director on 27th April 2017

John R Smart, Joint Managing Director Aged 47
Joined the Company in 2002
Appointed Director in 2013
Appointed Joint Managing Director on 27th April 2017

Alasdair H Ross Aged 55 
Joined the Company in 1989 
Appointed Director in 2012 

Patricia Sweeney Aged 48
Joined the Company in 2011
Appointed Director on 26th April 2017

15

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 

31st JULY 2017

STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE
This statement details how your Company has applied the main and supporting principles of corporate governance as set 
out in the Financial Reporting Council’s UK Corporate Governance Code issued in April 2016 (the Code).  A copy of the 
Code can be found on the Financial Reporting Council’s website, www.frc.org.uk.

The Board of Directors (the Board) is committed to the principles of openness, integrity and accountability in dealing with 
the Company’s affairs and believes it has always acted with probity in the best interests of the Company, its employees and 
shareholders without recourse to guidance or instruction from others and fully intends to continue to do so in the future.

The  Board  recognises  that  as  it  has  no  non-executive  Directors  on  the  Board,  no  Nomination,  Remuneration  or Audit 
Committees  have  been  established  and  therefore  the  Company  has  not  complied  with  any  of  the  principles  of  the  Code 
relating to non-executive directors or the establishment and operations of these committees.  Also, the Board recognises that it 
has not fully complied with other principles of the Code relating to the division of responsibilities and evaluation of the Board 
as a whole and the Directors individually.  Details and explanations for all principles not complied with are given below.

THE BOARD 
The Company is led by the Board which comprises the executive management of the Company, being the Chairman 
who is one of the two Joint Managing Directors and two other executive Directors, and thus maintains full control of the 
Company, sets the strategic aims of the Company and ensures the Company has adequate inancial and human resources 
to meet its objectives.  All the Directors worked for the Company prior to their appointments as Director and therefore 
have the appropriate skills, experience and knowledge of the Company to ensure that the Board discharges its duties and 
responsibilities effectively.  On 27th April 2017, John M Smart retired as a Director and from the Company.  David W 
Smart became the Chairman of the Company on 27th April 2017 and along with John R Smart became Joint Managing 
Director.  Patricia Sweeney was appointed a Director on 26th April 2017.

Decisions are taken by the Board quickly and effectively following ad hoc consultation among the Directors concerned 
when  any  matter  arises.  Your  Board  takes  the  view  that  this  direct  and  lexible  approach  is  preferable  to  the  more 
cumbersome procedures prevalent in larger organisations and has made a considerable contribution to your Company’s 
continuing success and ensures that this approach best serves the interests of the Company and its shareholders.

The Board held 3 formal Board Meetings in the year, attendance at these meetings was as follows:
John M Smart (retired 27th April 2017)  
David W Smart    
John R Smart  
Alasdair H Ross   
Patricia Sweeney (appointed 26th April 2017)  

3
3
2
3
-

During  the  year  the  Directors  also  met  regularly  on  an  ad  hoc  basis  to  undertake  the  executive  management  of  the 
Company and take decisions on all material matters quickly and effectively thus exercising full direction and control of 
the Company. Given the way in which the Board and Company operates there is no requirement for a formal schedule of 
matters reserved for the Board’s decision.

The Chairman of the Company is also one of the Joint Managing Directors.  Bearing in mind the size of the Company, 
the Board sees no value in splitting the role of the Chairman and Managing Director, a policy which has served your 
Company  well  over  many  years.    The  Chairman  is  responsible  for  the  leadership  of  the  Board,  ensuring  that  all  the 
Directors receive accurate, timely and clear information on issues arising at formal and ad hoc Board meetings, setting 
Board agendas and ensuring adequate time is given to discussion of the agenda points.  The members of the Board have 
complete freedom to seek independent professional advice, at the Company’s expense, when they feel it is appropriate to 
do so.  All Directors have access to the advice and services of the Company Secretary, who is responsible for ensuring that 
Board procedures are followed and that applicable rules and regulations are complied with.  All Directors openly express 
their views and make a valuable contribution to the running of the Company.

Information regarding the Directors’ interests in ordinary shares of the Company is given in the Directors’ Remuneration Report.

16

17

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

THE BOARD (continued) 
The Chairman is also responsible for ensuring effective communication with shareholders and ensuring that their views 
and concerns are brought to the attention of the Board.

The Board considers that increasing the manning level of the Board by 50% by the appointment of two non-executive 
Directors would increase costs and impose an additional administrative burden for no discernible beneit and, accordingly, 
would serve no useful purpose.  As a result of not appointing non-executive Directors, the Company has not established 
Nomination, Remuneration or Audit Committees or identiied an independent Director. 

As the Company does not have a Nomination Committee, nominations for appointment of new Directors to the Board are 
submitted by the Chairman for approval by the other members of the Board.  As all the Directors of the Company were 
long-serving employees of the Company at the date of appointment this ensures that the skills, experience and knowledge 
are retained in the Company and onto the Board.  Due regard is taken of the beneits of diversity, including gender on the 
Board when appointments are made.  No formal tailored induction upon joining the Board is considered necessary.  As the 
Directors are all full-time employees of the Company they are fully committed to the Company and are able to allocate 
suficient time to the Company in discharging their duties and responsibilities effectively.  The Directors are encouraged 
by the Board to receive any training they consider necessary to ensure they remain up-to-date with their skills, knowledge 
and familiarity of the Company’s business and they remain aware of the risks associated with the Company and are also 
aware of regulatory, legal, inancial and other developments to enable them to fulil their role effectively.

There is no formal system of performance evaluation of the Board or the Directors individually given the manner in which 
the Board operates on a day to day basis.

The  Company’s Articles  of Association  do  not  require  that  Directors  retire  by  rotation,  however,  in  accordance  with 
provision B.7.1 of the Code all Directors, with the exception of the Chairman, seek re-election at intervals of no more 
than three years at the Annual General Meeting.  Also in accordance with provision B.7.1 of the Code all new Directors 
are subject to re-election at the irst Annual General Meeting following their appointment.

As  the  Company  does  not  have  a  Remuneration  Committee,  the  Chairman  is  responsible  for  ixing  the  remuneration 
packages of the Directors which are based on their performance and the scope of their duties and responsibilities.  No 
Director has a service contract with the Company other than their initial employment contract and accordingly periods 
of notice and termination payments are structured in accordance with Employment Law.  There is no scheme in place 
for a Director to receive entitlement to share options nor are there any long term incentive schemes.  Full details of the 
Company’s remuneration policy are given in the Directors’ Remuneration Report.

FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS REPORTING 
The Directors have sole responsibility for the preparation of the Annual Report and Statement of Accounts which taken 
as a whole is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for the shareholders to assess the 
Company’s performance, business model and strategy.  The Directors are also solely responsible for the preparation of the 
Interim Report and other price-sensitive public reports in a fair, balanced and understandable manner. The basis on which 
the Company creates and preserves value over the long term is described in the business model within the Strategic Report.

In  order  to  ensure  that  the  Company  and  Group  have  adequate  resources  to  ensure  the  continuing  operations  of  the 
Company and Group for the foreseeable future the Directors consider current and future trading, investment property 
acquisitions and cash requirements.  The Directors take account of prevailing market conditions in all areas of the Group’s 
activities and use their knowledge and experience relating to the Group’s investment property portfolio.  The Directors’ 
opinion is that the Company and Group have adequate inancial resources to allow the Company and Group to continue 
in operational existence for the foreseeable future and therefore considers the adoption of the going concern basis as 
appropriate for the preparation of the Accounts.

The Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities is set out on page 26.

17

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

RISK MANAGEMENT AND INTERNAL CONTROL

The  Board  is  responsible  for  and  annually  reviews  the  Group’s  system  of  internal  controls  in  relation  to  inancial, 
operational, compliance and risk management to ensure their continued effectiveness.  The systems adopted by the Board 
are designed to manage the risk of failure to achieve the Company’s business objectives as opposed to eliminate them 
as any system of control can only provide reasonable but not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss.
The Board, in accordance with the Code, has reviewed the effectiveness of the internal controls from the commencement 
of the accounting period to the date of approval of the Annual Report and Statement of Accounts.  No signiicant failings 
or  weaknesses  have  been  identiied  in  that  period.    There  has  also  been  a  continual  process  of  identiication  by  the 
Directors of key areas of risk within the Group and appropriate action taken to mitigate and monitor such risks. The 
Directors conirm that they have carried out a robust assessment of the principal risks facing the Group, as detailed in the 
Strategic Report, including those which threaten the business model, future performance, solvency and liquidity of the 
Group.
The  main  features  of  the  Group’s  internal  control  and  risk  management  systems  in  relation  to  the  inancial  reporting 
process are:
– 

contracts,  development  projects,  land  purchases  and  acquisition  of  property,  plant  and  equipment  are  
proceeded with after due consideration by the Directors;
monthly reports are prepared for each contract and development project for review by the Directors;
subsidiary Company reports are prepared for consideration by the Directors; and
treasury  operations  are  carried  out  in  accordance  with  policies  and  procedures  already  approved  by  
the Board.

− 
− 
− 

AUDIT
As the Company does not have an Audit Committee, it is the responsibility of the Chairman and Company Secretary 
on a continuing basis to consider how the inancial reporting and internal control principles apply to the Company, to 
maintain an appropriate relationship with the Group’s Auditor and to review the scope and results of the audit and its cost 
effectiveness. The Board is responsible for setting the remuneration of the Auditor.  

Currently there are no proposals to undertake a retendering of the Company’s external audit function. The Company’s 
external auditor has held ofice since 1975 and there has been no audit tender since that appointment. The Board continues 
to assess the independence and effectiveness of the external audit function to ensure the integrity of the audit role provided 
by the current external auditor on behalf of the shareholders. The Board also takes into account the external auditor’s own 
policies and procedures regarding their integrity and independence including their procedures for rotation of audit partner 
and senior staff and the professional standards they have to adhere to. At this time the Board has concluded that there is 
no requirement to place the external audit function out to tender.

Mandatory rotation of the external auditor has become effective for all public limited companies following implementation 
of an EU ruling which has become part of Companies Act 2006 via Statutory Instrument: The Statutory Auditors and 
Third Country Auditors Regulations 2016. Given that our current external auditor has held ofice for over 20 years we 
will be required to appoint a new external auditor for the audit of the Group’s accounts for the year ending 31st July 2020. 

In order to ensure the continued independence and objectivity of the Group’s Auditor, the Board has established policies 
regarding the provision of non-audit services by the Auditor. In some cases, the nature of the non-audit advice may make 
it more timely and cost effective to select the Group’s Auditor, who already have a good understanding of the Group. In 
other circumstances the decisions on the allocation of work are made on the basis of competence and cost effectiveness.  

The Board has considered and for the time being has concluded that an internal audit function is not necessary. The Board 
will continue to review the need for such a function. As such there is no internal audit of the risks identiied by the Board 
and the controls established by the Board to mitigate and monitor these risks.

18

 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

SIGNIFICANT JUDGEMENTS, KEY ASSUMPTIONS AND ESTIMATES 

Given that there is no Audit Committee, it is the responsibility of the Board as a whole to consider areas of the inancial 
statements  where  there  are  signiicant  areas  of  judgement  regarding  estimates  and  assumptions,  which  in  turn  have  a 
signiicant effect on the amounts recognised in the inancial statements.  In respect of the 2017 inancial statements these 
areas were:
− 

Investment Property Valuations – the valuation of the investment property portfolio is completed  by the Directors. 
The  valuation  of  the  property  portfolio  is  inherently  subjective  and  requires  signiicant  judgements  and 
assumptions  to  be  made.    The  Directors  appoint  external  valuers  to  value  a  sample  of  properties  in  the  
portfolio to provide a sense check on their valuation.  The valuations are discussed with the Auditors.
Long-Term  Contract  Valuations  and  Provisions  –  the  Directors  consider  contract  performance  to  ensure  
appropriate revenue recognition.  Future revenue and contract performance are considered and loss provisions  
determined  where  necessary.  Both  costs  and  revenues  may  require  to  be  revised  as  future  events  unfold  
and uncertainties are resolved which would have a direct impact on overall performance of these contracts.
Retirement Beneit Surplus – the valuation of the retirement beneit obligation is dependent upon a series of  
assumptions which are determined after the Directors take expert advice from the Group’s actuary. Changes in  
these assumptions could have a material affect on the surplus disclosed in the inancial statements.

− 

− 

The Board discusses fully all issues relevant to the above areas and obtains where possible information and advice from 
external experts and our external Auditors and only when fully satisied with the amounts associated with each area are 
they incorporated into the inancial statements.

RELATIONS WITH SHAREHOLDERS

The Board has in the past and will in the future continue to enter into dialogue with the shareholders wherever possible.  
The Chairman is responsible for ensuring that the views and concerns of the shareholders are communicated to the Board.  
The Chairman is also responsible for discussing governance and strategy matters with the shareholders.

As the Company has no non-executive Directors there is no opportunity for shareholders to meet with these Directors.

All shareholders have an opportunity at the Annual General Meeting to participate in questions and answers with the 
Board on matters relating to the Company.

At the Annual General Meeting separate resolutions will be proposed on each substantially separate issue and the number 
of proxy votes received for, against, and withheld for each resolution will be announced.

SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS

As  at  31st  July  2017  and  20th  October  2017,  excluding  holdings  of  Directors,  the  Company  has  been  notiied  of  the 
following holdings of substantial voting rights in respect of the issued share capital of the Company:

Octet Investments Limited  
. 
A J Whitehead 

.   

. 
.   

.   
. 

. 
. 

.   
.   

. 
. 

. 
. 

Number 
1,872,400 
2,292,745 

%
4.2
5.1

14th November 2017 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Patricia Sweeney
Company Secretary

18

19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 

31st JULY 2017

ANNUAL STATEMENT

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I present the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ended 31st July 2017.

In  addition  to  this  statement  the  Report  includes  two  other  parts  being  the  Policy  Report  and  the Annual  Report  on 
Remuneration, which have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 and Schedule 8 
of The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment) Regulations 2013.  The 
Report also meets the requirements of the UK Listing Authority’s Listing Rules and the Disclosure and Transparency 
Rules.

The Policy Report has been developed taking account of the principles of the UK Corporate Governance Code 2016.  

The shareholders approved the previous Policy at the 2014 Annual General Meeting and the policy was effective for three 
years from that date.

The shareholders will be asked to approve the Policy at the 2017 Annual General Meeting and if approved will become 
effective from that date and will be effective for three years. 

The Annual  Report  on  Remuneration  will  be  subject  to  a  vote  at  the  2017 Annual  General  Meeting.    Our Auditor  is 
required to report to the shareholders on certain information contained in the Annual Report on Remuneration and that it 
has been prepared in accordance with the Act and the Regulations. The information to be audited is appropriately marked.

There have been no substantial changes to Executive Directors’ remuneration in the year.  Our policy continues to be to 
provide remuneration packages that will retain and motivate the Directors to sustain the long term growth and value of 
the Company.

14th November 2017 

THE POLICY REPORT

DaviD w Smart
Chairman

As stated in the Corporate Governance Statement the Company does not appoint non-executive Directors and therefore the 
Company does not have a Remuneration Committee to set the Executive Directors’ Remuneration Policy.  The Chairman 
fulils the function of the Remuneration Committee.

The Company’s remuneration policy is to provide remuneration packages that will retain and motivate the Directors to 
sustain the long term growth and value of the Company and is based on the scope of their duties and responsibilities.  
The Directors are not entitled to any performance related remuneration, long term incentive schemes or share options.  
The  remuneration  of  the  Directors  is  not  performance  related  therefore  no  element  of  their  remuneration  is  based  on 
performance measures.

The policy table below summarises the main components of Directors’ Remuneration:

ELEMENT

PURPOSE AND STRATEGY

OPERATION

BASE SALARY

To  pay  a  fair  salary  commensurate  with  the 
individual’s role, responsibilities and experience. 

Reviewed  annually  in  July  taking  account  of  the 
individual’s  role  and  experience  and  the  salary 
increases  of  employees  throughout  the  Group  as  a 
whole.  No maximum level is set.

20

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

ELEMENT 

PURPOSE AND STRATEGY 

                              OPERATION

BENEFITS 

To provide support to enable the Directors to carry out 
their duties effectively. 

PENSION

To provide appropriate levels of retirement beneits.

Beneits  include  cash  in  lieu  of  a  company  car  and 
private  medical  insurance.    No  maximum  level  is  set 
as  the  costs  of  providing  beneits  luctuate  over  time; 
however the costs are monitored to ensure they remain 
reasonable.

Depending  on  when  a  Director  irst  became  an 
employee of the Company will determine whether they 
are members of the Company’s Deined Beneit Pension 
Scheme or Deined Contribution Scheme.

Company contributions to the Deined Beneit Scheme 
are currently 27.8% of base salary.  Contribution levels 
are set in agreement between the scheme trustees and 
the Company and can therefore vary from time to time.

Company  contributions  to  the  Deined  Contribution 
Scheme are currently a minimum of 10% of base salary.

The  Chairman  retains  the  right  to  make  minor  amendments  to  the  above  policy,  to  take  account  of  regulatory,  tax, 
legislative or administrative changes without obtaining shareholder approval for these amendments.

No share options or long term incentive schemes are operated by the Company.  

Directors are entitled to claim relevant expenses incurred by them in respect of their duties.

There are no provisions for the recovery of sums paid to Directors or the withholding of the payment of any sums to 
Directors.

As all remuneration of Directors is ixed remuneration there is no need to illustrate, via a bar chart, the expected values of 
proposed remuneration as it does not contain any elements based on performance and therefore is not subject to change 
based on either the Company’s or Director’s performance. 

APPROACH TO RECRUITMENT OF DIRECTORS

The Company’s approach to appointing new Executive Directors is to appoint from within the Company.  As such the 
remuneration  of  the  Director  has  already  been  set  by  the  Company  and  the  package  held  by  the  employee  prior  to 
appointment as a Director will remain in place.  Consideration will be made of the increased duties and responsibilities 
that will apply post appointment as a Director and revision to their base salary may be made to relect this.

SERVICE CONTRACTS AND POLICY ON CESSATION

No Director has a service contract with the Company, other than their initial employment contract and therefore periods 
of notice and termination payments are structured in accordance with current Employment Law.

CONSIDERATION OF EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS ELSEWHERE IN COMPANY

The  Chairman  when  considering  the  remuneration  of  the  Executive  Directors  takes  into  account  the  remuneration 
of employees across the Group as a whole.  However, the Chairman does not consult directly with employees on the 
remuneration of the Executive Directors but is mindful of salary increases which are applied across the Group as a whole.

20

21

 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

CONSIDERATION OF SHAREHOLDER VIEWS

The Chairman considers all views and concerns he receives from shareholders especially at the Annual General Meeting 
when shareholders have the opportunity to ask questions of the Board on all matters relating to the Company including 
Directors’ Remuneration, or at any other time throughout the year.  

Although no direct communication was held by the Chairman with major shareholders prior to shaping the Remuneration 
Policy  he  believes  that  it  is  a  responsible  approach  to  remuneration  and  its  policies  in  the  past  and  for  the  future  as 
evidenced by the level of approval of the 2016 Directors’ Remuneration Report at the 2016 Annual General Meeting, 
details of which are given in the Annual Report on Remuneration below. 

ANNUAL REPORT ON REMUNERATION 

The following provides details of how the remuneration policy was implemented in the year to 31st July 2017. 

Single Total Figure of Remuneration for Executive Directors (Audited Information)
The following table presents the single igure for the total remuneration of each Executive Director for the year ended 
31st July 2017 and the prior year:

Salary 
£000 

Taxable 
Beneits 
£000 

.   
.   

90 
.   
.   

.   
.   

6 
.   
.   

.   
.   

.   
.   

6 
.   
.   

.   
.   

96 
.   
.   

.   
.   

. 
. 

96 
. 
. 

. 
. 

53
. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

.  
.      

88
.       
.       

.       
.       

.       
.       

.       
.       

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

79 
105 

107 
104 

107 
104 

107 
104 

26 
– 

7 
10 

10 
10 

10 
10 

10 
10 

2 
– 

Pension 
£000 

– 
– 

Total 
£000 

86 
115

312                     148
522 
166

13 
12 

532 
342 

3 
– 

130
126

170
148

31
–

John M Smart
20171 
.   
.   
2016 

David W Smart 
2017 
2016 

.   
.   

John R Smart 
.   
2017 
.   
2016 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

Alasdair H Ross  90 
2017 
2016 

.   
.   

. 
. 

Patricia Sweeney
20173 
2016 

.   
.   

. 
. 

1.  John M Smart retired as a Director on 27th April 2017. 
2.  Pension value represents the cash value of pension accrued over one year multiplied by 20 in line with new regulations with allowance for inlation and employee contributions.
3.   Patricia Sweeney was appointed as a Director on 26th April 2017.

22

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

DIRECTORS’ PENSION ENTITLEMENTS (AUDITED INFORMATION) 
David  W  Smart  and  Alasdair  H  Ross  are  members  of  the  Company’s  Deined  Beneit  Pension  Scheme  whilst  
John R Smart and Patricia Sweeney are members of the Company’s Group Personal Pension Plan.

The Company’s Deined Beneit Pension Scheme was closed to new members in 2003. The normal date of retirement 
based on the scheme rules is 65 and there is no automatic entitlement to early retirement. Contributions by the employer 
under the scheme are 27.8% of pensionable salary.

Accrued pension 
as at 31 July 2017 
£000 

32   

42 

Accrued pension
as at 31 July 2016
£000
30

     38

David W Smart 

Alasdair H Ross 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

SCHEME INTEREST AWARDS (AUDITED INFORMATION)
There were no scheme interests awarded in the year.

PAYMENTS TO PAST DIRECTORS (AUDITED INFORMATION)
No payments were made to past Directors in the year.

PAYMENTS FOR LOSS OF OFFICE (AUDITED INFORMATION)
No payments for loss of ofice were made to Directors in the year.

STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS’ SHAREHOLDING AND SHARE INTERESTS (AUDITED INFORMATION)
The Company has no policy that Directors are required to own shares in the Company, although all Directors are currently 
shareholders of the Company.

The interests of the Directors in the ordinary shares of the Company, including beneicial interests, are shown in the table 
below:

Beneicial holdings 
(including interests of the Director’s connected persons)

31 July 2017 

31 July 2016

.   
David W Smart 
John R Smart 
.   
Alasdair H Ross  .   
Patricia Sweeney .   

. 
. 
. 
. 

.   
.   
.   
.   

.   
.   
.   
.   

. 
. 
. 
. 

   11,863,500 
   11,863,500 
        100,000 
          50,000 

   11,863,500
   11,863,500
        100,000
        100,00–

There have been no changes in any Directors’ beneicial holdings between the year end and 20th October 2017.

John M Smart retired as a Director on 27th April 2017.  As at 1st August 2016 and 27th April 2017 he had a beneicial 
holding of 1,198,500 Ordinary Shares of 2p in the Company.

23

 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

PERFORMANCE GRAPH 

The graph below shows a comparison of the total shareholder return for the Company’s shares for each of the last ive 
inancial years against the total shareholder return for the companies comprised in the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT UK index 
which the Company deems to be the most relevant to the Company as it includes companies in the same sector as the 
Company.

The graph compares the value of £100 invested in J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC, including re-invested dividends.

Total Shareholder Return over the last five financial years

£

200

150

100

50

0

J Smart & Co (Contractors) PLC

FTSE EPRA / NAREIT UK Index

2017

GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S TOTAL REMUNERATION

The following table details the Chief Executive Oficer’s single igure of remuneration over the last ive inancial years:

2017 
£000 
  148 
    86 

David W Smart 
John M Smart 

2016 
£000 
  166 
  115 

2015 
£000 
  165 
  115 

2014 
£000 
  207 
  119 

2013
£000
  184
  133

GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S CHANGE IN REMUNERATION

The  following  table  compares  the  change  in  remuneration  of  the  Group  Chief    Executive  Oficer  and  that  of  the  
remuneration  of  the  Group’s  salaried  employees.    This  group  of  employees  was  chosen  as  it  represents  the  most  
comparable group.

Base salary 
Taxable beneits   

.   

. 
. 

.   
.   

. 
. 

. 
. 

  3 % 
  – % 

6 %
 – %

CEO 
% change 2016-2017  

    Other employees
% change 2016-2017

24

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF SPEND ON PAY

The  following  table  compares  the  total  spend  on  remuneration  of  all  employees  of  the  Group,  including  Executive 
Directors, and the total amounts paid in distributions to shareholders for the years to 31st July 2017 and 31st July 2016:

2017 
£000 

2016 
£000 

Difference in  Difference as a
percentage
 %

spend 
£000 

Remuneration of employees 
Total distributions paid  
(being dividends and share buy backs) 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

 11,005 
  1,396 

11,678                           (673) 
1,550                           (154) 

(6)
(10)

IMPLEMENTATION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REMUNERATION POLICY FOR 2018

After taking into consideration Group employees’ salary increases for the year to 31st July 2018, an increase of 3% of base 
salary was awarded to all Directors, except for Patricia Sweeney who received a base salary increase of 6%.

 Base salary from 1st July 2017 
£   

David W Smart 
John R Smart 
Alasdair H Ross 
Patricia Sweeney 

.   
.   
.   
.   

. 
. 
. 
. 

.   
.   
.   
.   

. 
. 
. 
. 

.        
.        
.        
.        

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

109,250 
109,250 
109,250 
109,250 

Base salary from 1st July 2016
£
106,500
106,500
106,500
103,500

CONSIDERATIONS BY THE DIRECTORS OF MATTERS RELATING TO DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION

The Chairman is responsible for determining Directors’ Remuneration.  No advice was sought in the year in considering 
Directors’ Remuneration.  

SUMMARY OF SHAREHOLDER VOTING AT THE 2016 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The  2016  Directors’  Remuneration  Report  was  put  to  the  shareholders  for  their  approval  at  the  2016 Annual  General 
Meeting.  The resolution was passed on a show of hands.  

Details of the proxy votes lodged, including those at the discretion of the Chairman, are as follows:

. 
. 

For 
.   
. 
. 
.   
Against 
Total votes cast (excluding votes withheld) 
Votes withheld 
. 
.   
Total votes cast (including votes withheld) 

.   
.   

.   

. 

.   
.   
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
.  

 .    
 .    
. 
. 
.     

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

Total number 
 of votes 
26,314,160 
           4,000 
26,318,160 
                  – 
  26,318,160 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

% of votes cast

99
        1
    100

Votes withheld are not included in the proxy igures as they are not recognised as a vote in law.

14th November 2017 

25

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Patricia Sweeney
Company Secretary

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
   
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES 

31st JULY 2017

STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPECT OF THE ANNUAL REPORT AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

The  Directors  are  responsible  for  preparing  the  Annual  Report  and  the  Group  and  Parent  Company’s  Statement  of 
Accounts in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare Group and Parent Company inancial statements for each inancial year.  
Under that law they are required to prepare the Group inancial statements in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (IFRS as adopted by the EU) and applicable law and have elected 
to prepare the Parent Company inancial statements on the same basis.

Under company law the Directors must not approve the inancial statements unless they are satisied that they give a true 
and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group and Parent Company and of their proit or loss for that period.  In preparing 
each of the Group and Parent Company inancial statements, the Directors are required to:

− 

− 

− 

− 

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

state whether they have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU; and

prepare  the  inancial  statements  on  the  going  concern  basis  unless  it  is  inappropriate  to  presume  that  
the Group and the Parent Company will continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are suficient to show and explain the Group 
and Parent Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the inancial position of the Group 
and Parent Company and enable them to ensure that its inancial statements comply with Companies Act 2006.  They 
have general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the Group and 
to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.

Under  applicable  law  and  regulations,  the  Directors  are  also  responsible  for  preparing  the  Report  of  the  Directors, 
Strategic Report, Corporate Governance Statement and Directors’ Remuneration Report that complies with that law and 
those regulations.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and inancial information included on 
the Company’s website.  Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of inancial statements may 
differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

Each of the Directors conirms to the best of their knowledge:
− 

the  inancial  statements,  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  applicable  set  of  accounting  standards,  give  
a  true  and  fair  view  of  the  assets,  liabilities,  inancial  position  and  proit  or  loss  of  the  Company  and  the  
undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole;
the  Report  of  the  Directors  and  the  Strategic  Report  include  a  fair  review  of  the  development  and  
performance  of  the  business  and  the  position  of  the  Company  and  undertakings  included  in  the  
consolidation  taken  as  a  whole,  together  with  a  description  of  the  principal  risks  and  uncertainties  that  
they face; and
the  Annual  Report  and  Statement  of  Accounts  taken  as  a  whole  are  fair,  balanced  and  understandable  
and  provide  the  information  necessary  for  the  shareholders  to  assess  the  Group’s  business  model,  
performance and strategy.

− 

− 

14th November 2017 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Patricia Sweeney
Company Secretary

26

27

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT  

31st JULY 2017

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF J. SMART & CO. (CONTRACTORS) PLC 

OPINION 

We have audited the inancial statements of J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC for the year ended 31st July 2017 which 
comprise the Consolidated Income Statement, the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated 
and  Company  Statement  of  Changes  in  Equity,  the  Consolidated  and  Company  Statement  of  Financial  Position,  the 
Consolidated  and  Company  Statement  of  Cash  Flows  and  notes  to  the  accounts,  including  a  summary  of  signiicant 
accounting policies.  The inancial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and 
International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (IFRS as adopted by EU) and, as regards 
the Parent Company inancial statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.
In our opinion:
• 

the inancial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 
31st July 2017 and of the Group’s proit for the year then ended;
the Group inancial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU;
the Parent Company inancial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU 
and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and
the inancial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and, as 
regards the Group inancial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulations.

• 
• 

• 

BASIS FOR OPINION 

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law.  Our 
responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the inancial 
statements section of our report.  We are independent of the Group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are 
relevant to our audit of the inancial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied to listed public 
interest entities, and we have fulilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.  We believe 
that the audit evidence we have obtained is suficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

CONCLUSIONS RELATING TO PRINCIPAL RISKS, GOING CONCERN AND VIABILITY STATEMENT 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following information in the Annual Report, in relation to which the ISAs (UK) 
require us to report to you whether we have anything material to add or draw attention to:
• 

the disclosures in the Annual Report set out on pages 12 and 13 that describe the principal risks and explain how they 
are being managed or mitigated;
the Directors’ conirmation set out on page 18 in the Annual Report that they have carried out a robust assessment 
of the principal risks facing the Group, including those that would threaten its business model, future performance, 
solvency or liquidity;
the  Directors’  statement,  set  out  on  page  8  in  the  inancial  statements,  about  whether  the  Directors  considered  it 
appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the inancial statements and the Directors’ 
identiication of any material uncertainties to the Group and the Parent company’s ability to continue to do so over a 
period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of the inancial statements;

• 

• 

•  whether  the  Directors’  statement  relating  to  going  concern  required  under  the  Listing  Rules  in  accordance  with 

• 

Listing Rule 9.8.6R(3) is materially inconsistent with our knowledge obtained in the audit; or
the Directors’ explanation set out on page 14 in the Annual Report as to how they have assessed the prospects of the 
Group, over what period they have done so and why they consider that period to be appropriate, and their statement 
as to whether they have a reasonable expectation that the Group will be able to continue in operation and meet its 
liabilities as they fall due over the period of their assessment, including any related disclosures drawing attention to 
any necessary qualiications or assumptions.

27

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

CONCLUSIONS RELATING TO PRINCIPAL RISKS, GOING CONCERN AND VIABILITY STATEMENT (continued) 

However, because not all future events or conditions can be predicted, this statement is not a guarantee as to the Group’s 
and Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

KEY AUDIT MATTERS

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most signiicance in our audit of the 
inancial statements of the current period and include the most signiicant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether 
or not due to fraud) that we identiied. These matters included those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit 
strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were 
addressed in the context of our audit of the inancial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we 
do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

VALUATION OF THE INVESTMENT PROPERTY PORTFOLIO

As described in note 1 Accounting policies and estimation techniques and note 13 Investment Properties the Group carries 
investment properties at the Directors’ estimate of fair value. As at 31st July 2017 the Group held investment properties 
of £64,799,000.

Judgement is required by the Directors in terms of the assessment of the individual nature of each property, its location, 
expected future rental income, tenure and tenancy proiles, prevailing market yields and comparable market conditions. 
The  valuation  of  investment  properties  requires  signiicant  judgement  by  management.  Any  input  inaccuracies  or 
unreasonable bases used in these assumptions could result in a material misstatement in the inancial statements.

How we addressed the key audit matter

To obtain assurance over management’s assumptions applied in calculating the fair value of investment properties we 
completed the following audit procedures among others:
• 

testing the integrity of the information used by the Directors in completing the valuation including agreement on a 
sample basis back to underlying leases;

•  meeting with the Directors to challenge the valuation process, the performance of the portfolio and the signiicant 

• 

assumptions and critical judgement areas, including future income and yields; and
reviewing the results of a valuation completed by a third party valuer of a sample of the property portfolio, comparing 
this to the Directors’ valuation and discussing the results with the Directors.

Based on our procedures, we noted no material exceptions and considered management’s key assumptions to be within 
reasonable ranges.

CONTRACT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

As described in note 1 Accounting policies and estimation techniques, note 17 Trade and other receivables and note 19 
Trade and other payables the Group carries amounts recoverable on contracts of £1,781,000 and contract loss provisions 
of £609,000.

Judgement is required in preparing suitable estimates of the forecast costs and revenue on contracts. The Directors take 
into account the estimated costs to complete and the percentage stage of completion of current contracts when determining 
the recognition of proit or the requirement for a loss provision. An error in the contract outcome could result in a material 
variance in the amount of proit or loss recognised to date and therefore also in the current period.

28

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

KEY AUDIT MATTERS (continued)

CONTRACT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (continued)

How we addressed the key audit matter

substantive testing of contract revenues and costs;

To obtain assurance over management’s assumptions in calculating contract outcomes we completed the following audit 
procedures among others:
• 
•  meeting with the Directors to challenge key judgements inherent in the forecast costs to complete that are crucial in 
determining revenue and margin to be recognised and the identiication of loss making contracts and the quantum of 
loss provisions; and
performing site visits and reviewing contract terms for key contracts.

• 

Overall based on these procedures, we are satisied that contract balances are appropriately stated and that revenue and 
contract results have been recorded appropriately.

PENSION SCHEME VALUATION

As  described  in  note  1 Accounting  policies  and  estimation  techniques  and  note  26  Retirement  beneit  obligations  the 
Group has a deined beneit pension plan in the UK. At 31st July 2017, the Group recorded a net retirement beneit asset 
of £3,862,000, comprising scheme assets of £37,888,000 and scheme liabilities of £34,026,000.

The pension valuation is dependent on market conditions and key assumptions made, in particular, relating to investment 
returns, discount rate, inlation expectations and life expectancy assumptions.

The setting of these assumptions is complex and requires the exercise of signiicant management judgement with the 
support of third party actuaries.  Any unreasonable bases used in these assumptions could result in a material misstatement 
in the inancial statements, refer to sensitivity analysis in note 26.

How we addressed the key audit matter

To obtain assurance over managements judgements in the determination of the pension scheme surplus we completed the 
following audit procedures among others:
•  we reviewed the key assumptions with management;
•  we reviewed the key assumptions with the actuary;
•  we benchmarked key assumptions against available empirical data;
•  we reviewed the Directors assessment as to the recoverability of the pension surplus; and
•  we also reviewed the disclosure of the pension scheme assumptions in the inancial statements.

Based on our procedures, we noted no material exceptions and considered management’s key assumptions to be within 
reasonable ranges.

OUR APPLICATION OF MATERIALITY 

We apply the concept of materiality both in planning and performing our audit, and in evaluating the effect of misstatements 
on our audit and on the inancial statements.  For the purposes of determining whether the inancial statements are free 
from  material  misstatement  we  deine  materiality  as  the  magnitude  of  misstatements  that  makes  it  probable  that  the 
economic  decisions  of  a  reasonably  knowledgeable  person  relying  on  the  inancial  statements  would  be  changed  or 
inluenced.
The  materiality  for  the  Group  inancial  statements  as  a  whole  was  set  at  £548,000.    This  has  been  determined  with 
reference to a benchmark of Group total assets (of which it represents 0.5%) which we consider to be one of the principal 
considerations for members of the Company in assessing the inancial position of the Group.  We also considered the 
overall  property  portfolio  valuation  and  the  extent  and  signiicance  of  the  construction  business  in  concluding  on  the 
appropriate level of materiality.

28

29

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

OUR APPLICATION OF MATERIALITY (continued) 

We agreed with the Board of Directors to report to it all corrected and uncorrected misstatements we identiied through 
our audit with a value in excess of £27,000, in addition to other audit misstatements below that threshold that we believe 
warranted reporting on qualitative grounds.
There were no misstatements identiied during the course of our audit that were individually, or in aggregate, considered 
to be material in terms of their absolute monetary value or on qualitative grounds.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE SCOPE OF OUR AUDIT 

The Group inancial statements are a consolidation of the seven trading entities including the parent entity and the Group’s 
four joint ventures.  Except for two of the joint ventures which are dormant all entities were audited to their own individual 
materiality levels.

In establishing the overall approach to the Group audit, we obtained an understanding of the Group and its environment, 
including  group-wide  controls,  and  assessed  the  risks  of  material  misstatement  at  the  Group  level.    This  assessment 
determined the type of audit work required to enable us to conclude whether suficient audit evidence had been obtained 
as a basis for our opinion on the Group inancial statements.

There were no changes in the scope of our audit during the year.

Our audit work at Group level on the three areas highlighted in the key audit matters is described above.

In addition we assessed that the main risk from either fraud or irregularity with respect to the Group inancial statements 
was the possibility of management override of controls.

In  particular,  we  looked  at  where  the  Directors  made  subjective  judgements,  for  example  in  respect  of  signiicant 
accounting estimates that involved making assumptions and considering future events that are inherently uncertain.  We 
also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including evaluating whether there was evidence of 
bias by the Directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.

OTHER INFORMATION

The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report set out on pages 4 to 71 other than the 
inancial statements and our Auditor’s report thereon. The Directors are responsible for the other information. Our opinion 
on the inancial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in 
our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. In connection with our audit of the inancial 
statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so consider whether the other information is 
materially inconsistent with the inancial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be 
materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required 
to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the inancial statements or a material misstatement of the other 
information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of the other 
information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

30

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

OTHER INFORMATION (continued)

In this context, we also have nothing to report in regard to our responsibility to speciically address the following items 
in the other information and to report as uncorrected material misstatements of the other information where we conclude 
that those items meet the following conditions:

•  Fair, balanced and understandable - the statement given by the Directors on page 26 that they consider the Annual 
Report and inancial statements taken as a whole is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information 
necessary for shareholders to assess the Group’s business model, performance and strategy, is materially inconsistent 
with our knowledge obtained in the audit; or

•  Audit committee reporting - the explanation set out on page 18 as to why the Annual Report does not include a 
section describing the work of the audit committee is materially inconsistent with our knowledge obtained in the 
audit; or

•  Directors’  statement  of  compliance  with  the  UK  Corporate  Governance  Code  –  the  parts  of  the  Directors’ 
statement, set out on page 16 to 19, required under the Listing Rules relating to the Company’s compliance with the 
UK Corporate Governance Code containing provisions speciied for review by the auditor in accordance with Listing 
Rule 9.8.10R(2) do not properly disclose a departure from a relevant provision of the UK Corporate Governance 
Code.

OPINION ON OTHER MATTERS PRESCRIBED BY THE COMPANIES ACT 2006

In our opinion, the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance 
with the Companies Act 2006.

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
•  The information given in the Report of the Directors’ and the Strategic Report for the inancial year for which the 
inancial statements are prepared is consistent with the inancial statements and those reports have been prepared in 
accordance with applicable legal requirements.

MATTERS ON WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT BY EXCEPTION

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and the Parent company and its environment obtained in the 
course of the audit, we have not identiied material misstatements in:
•  The Report of the Directors’ or the Strategic Report; or
•  The information about internal control and risk management systems in relation to inancial reporting processes and 

about share capital structures, given in compliance with rules 7.2.5 and 7.2.6 of the FCA Rules.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to 
report to you if, in our opinion:
• 

adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not 
been received from branches not visited by us; or
the Parent company inancial statements and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited are not in 
agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
• 
certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration speciied by law are not made; or
•  we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

• 

30

31

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

RESPONSIBILITIES OF DIRECTORS

As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities set out on page 26 the Directors are responsible for 
the preparation of the inancial statements and for being satisied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal 
control as the Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of inancial statements that are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the inancial statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the Group’s and the Parent Company’s 
ability  to  continue  as  a  going  concern  disclosing  as  applicable,  matters  related  to  going  concern  and  using  the  going 
concern basis of accounting unless the Directors either intend to liquidate the Group or the Parent Company or to cease 
operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the inancial statements as a whole are free from material 
misstatement,  whether  due  to  fraud  or  error,  and  to  issue  an  auditor’s  report  that  includes  our  opinion.  Reasonable 
assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will 
always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered 
material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to inluence the economic decisions of 
users taken on the basis of these inancial statements.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the inancial statements is located in the Financial Reporting 
Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

USE OF THIS REPORT

This report is made solely to the Company’s shareholders, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the 
Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s shareholders those 
matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by 
law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company’s shareholders as a 
body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

OTHER MATTERS WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS

We were appointed by the Directors to audit the inancial statements for the year ending 31st July 1975 and subsequent 
inancial periods. The period of total uninterrupted engagement is 43 years, covering the years ending 31st July 1975 to 
31st July 2017.

The non-audit services prohibited by the FRC’s Ethical Standard were not provided to the Group or the Parent Company 
and we remain independent of the Group and the Parent company in conducting our audit.

Our audit opinion is consistent with the additional report to the Board.

133 Finnieston Street 
Glasgow 
G3 8HB 
14th November 2017 

Paula galloway
Senior Statutory Auditor
for and on behalf of FRENCH DUNCAN LLP
Statutory Auditor and Chartered Accountants

32

 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
for the year ended  31st JULY 2017 

Group construction activities  
. 
Less: Own construction work capitalised 

. 

REVENUE     
Cost of sales 

GROSS PROFIT 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

Other operating income  . 
Net operating expenses  . 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

OPERATING PROFIT BEFORE PROFIT ON SALE AND NET SURPLUS 
ON VALUATION OF INVESTMENT PROPERTIES  . 

. 

. 

Proit on sale of investment properties . 
Net surplus on valuation of investment properties 

. 

. 

. 
. 
OPERATING PROFIT 
Share of proits  in Joint Ventures 
. 
Income from available for sale inancial assets 
Proit on sale of available for sale inancial assets 
. 
Finance income  . 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

PROFIT BEFORE TAX 

Taxation 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS 

EARNINGS PER SHARE – BASIC AND DILUTED 

. 

. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

Notes 

2017 
£000 

2016 
£000

25,419 
   (2,559) 

30,682
  (1,655) 

22,860 
 (19,406) 

29,027
 (25,260)

3,454 

3,767

3 

6,090 
   (6,925) 

5,520
  (6,095) 

2,619 

3,192)

613 
        614) 

186
      136)

5 
14 
6 

7 

3,846            3,514)
33
14  
–  
           95               191  

42  
32  
22 

4,037 

3,752  

8 

      (310) 

     (264) 

9               3,727            3,488 

11                8.26p           7.61p 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

All activities in both the current and previous year relate to continuing operations. 

33

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 
for the year ended 31st JULY 2017

2017  
£000  

2016 
£000 

               3,727             3,488

        65) 

        (10)   

                 65) 

      (10)

3,306)  
               (680) 

(2,256)
      215

             2,626) 

  (2,041)

              2,691)           (2,051)

    6,418             1,437) 

  6,418  

        1,437)

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS) 
Items that may be subsequently reclassiied to Income Statement: 
Fair value adjustment of available for sale inancial assets 

. 

TOTAL ITEMS WHICH MAY BE SUBSEQUENTLY 
RECLASSIFIED TO INCOME STATEMENT . 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

Items that will not be subsequently reclassiied to Income Statement: 
Actuarial gain/(loss) recognised in deined beneit pension scheme  . 
. 
Deferred taxation on actuarial (gain)/loss 

. 

. 

. 

TOTAL ITEMS THAT WILL NOT BE SUBSEQUENTLY 
RECLASSIFIED TO INCOME STATEMENT . 

. 

TOTAL OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS) 

. 

. 

. 

. 

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR, NET OF TAX 

ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

34

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 
as at 31st JULY 2017

Capital 
  Share  Redemption 
Reserve 
 Capital 
£000 
  £000  

Fair Value 
Reserve 

Retained 
Total
Earnings 
£000                £000             £000

At 1st August 2015 

. 

. 

. 

919 

89                   (46)          87,987 

88,949

Proit for the year 
. 
Other comprehensive loss 
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) / INCOME  
.    
FOR THE YEAR 

. 
. 

. 
. 

.   

. 

. 

    – 

–               3,488            3,488
           –                      –                  (10)          (2,041)          (2,051)

– 

           –                      –                  (10)           1,447)           1,437)

TRANSACTIONS WITH OWNERS, RECORDED DIRECTLY IN EQUITY 
Shares purchased and cancelled  
. 
Transfer to Capital Redemption Reserve 
. 
Dividends  

(13) 
– 
           – 

  – 
13 
           – 

. 

. 

. 

– 
– 
           – 

(691) 
(13) 
      (846) 

(704)
–
       (846)

TOTAL TRANSACTIONS WITH OWNERS  . 

        (13) 

          13 

           – 

   (1,550) 

     (1,550)

At 31st July 2016  . 

. 

. 

. 
Proit for the year 
Other comprehensive income 
. 
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

. 

. 

. 
. 

       906 

       102 

        (56) 

    87,884 

    88,836

    – 

– 
           –                     – 

– 
          65) 

 3,727 
    2,626) 

3,727
       2,691)

FOR THE YEAR 

. 

. 

 .   

.    

           – 

           – 

          65) 

    6,353  

     6,418

         2,436 
TRANSACTIONS WITH OWNERS, RECORDED DIRECTLY IN EQUITY 
Shares purchased and cancelled  
. 
Transfer to Capital Redemption Reserve 
. 
Dividends  

(10) 
– 
           – 

  – 
10 
           – 

. 

. 

. 

      3,064

–                (540) 
(10) 
– 
      (846) 
           – 

(550)
–
       (846)

TOTAL TRANSACTIONS WITH OWNERS  . 

        (10) 

          10 

           – 

   (1,396) 

    (1,396)

At 31st July 2017  . 

. 

. 

. 

       896 

        112 

           9) 

  92,841 

      93,858

35

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
                               
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 
as at 31st JULY 2017

Capital 
Share  Redemption  
Reserve 
£000 

Capital 
£000 

Retained  
Earnings 
£000 

Total
£000

919 

89 

12,279 

13,287

At 1st August 2015 

. 

Proit for the year 
. 
Other comprehensive loss 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

 – 
              – 

– 
             – 

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE LOSS FOR THE YEAR 

             –                      – 

TRANSACTIONS WITH OWNERS, RECORDED DIRECTLY IN EQUITY
. 
Shares purchased and cancelled  
Transfer to Capital Redemption Reserve 
. 
Dividends  

             – 

. 
. 
.  

(13) 

. 

. 

. 

– 
–                    13  
             – 

310) 
   (2,041) 

   (1,731) 

310)
    (2,041)

    (1,731)

(691) 
(13) 
       (846) 

(704)
–
       (846)

TOTAL TRANSACTIONS WITH OWNERS  . 

. 

         (13) 

          13 

   (1,550) 

    (1,550)

At 31st July 2016  . 

. 

Loss for the year  
Other comprehensive income 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

.               906                  102   

    8,998                 10,006

.     
. 

–                      – 
               – 

                – 

(410) 
    2,626) 

(410)
     2,626)

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR 

                – 

               – 

     2 ,216) 

     2,216)

TRANSACTIONS WITH OWNERS, RECORDED DIRECTLY IN EQUITY 
Shares purchased and cancelled  
. 
Transfer to Capital Redemption Reserve 
. 
Dividends  

(10) 
–  
                – 

.  
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

– 
10 
              – 

(540) 
(10) 
      (846) 

(550)
–
       (846)

TOTAL TRANSACTIONS WITH OWNERS  . 

.                (10) 

          10 

   (1,396) 

      (1,396) 

At 31st July 2017  . 

. 

. 

. 

.                896 

        112 

    9,818 

   10,826 

36

37

 
 
 
 
           
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
          
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
as at 31st JULY 2017

NON-CURRENT ASSETS 
Property, plant and equipment  . 
Investment properties 
. 
. 
Investments in Joint Ventures 
Available for sale inancial assets 
. 
Retirement beneit surplus 
. 
. 
Deferred tax assets 

. 

CURRENT ASSETS 
Inventories 
. 
Trade and other receivables 
Monies held on deposit   
Cash and cash equivalents 

. 

TOTAL ASSETS 

. 

. 

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES 
. 
Deferred tax liabilities 

CURRENT LIABILITIES 
Trade and other payables 
Corporation tax liability  
. 
Bank overdraft 

TOTAL LIABILITIES 

NET ASSETS 

. 

. 

. 

EQUITY 
Called up share capital 
Capital redemption reserve  
Fair value reserve 
Retained earnings 

. 
. 

. 

TOTAL EQUITY 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
 . 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

  Notes 

12 
13 
14 
15 
26 
21 

16 
17 
18 
18 

21 

19 

22 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
.  

. 

2017  
£000  

1,431  
64,799  
305  
1,000  
3,862  
          58  

2016 
£000 

1,382
64,728
263
326 
33
          41 

   71,455  

   66,773

2,881  
5,723  
2,536  
   26,524  

2,684
6,369 
5,519
   26,785 

   37,664    

   41,357

  109,119  

 108,130

     1,923   

     1,389

4,385  
162  
       8,791  

5,134
143
   12,628

   13,338  

   17,905

    15,261   

   19,294 

   93,858   

   88,836

896  
112  
9) 
   92,841   

906
102
(56) 
   87,884 

   93,858  

   88,836 

The inancial statements on pages 33 to 71 were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 
14th November 2017 and were signed on its behalf by:

DaviD w Smart 
Director 

Company Number SC025130

John r Smart
Director

37

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
as at 31st JULY 2017

NON-CURRENT ASSETS 
Property, plant and equipment  . 
. 
Investments in Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures 
. 
Retirement beneit surplus 

. 

. 

. 

CURRENT ASSETS 
. 
Inventories 
Trade and other receivables 
Current tax asset  . 
Cash and cash equivalents  

. 

. 

TOTAL ASSETS 

. 

. 

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES 
. 
Deferred tax liabilities 

CURRENT LIABILITIES 
Trade and other payables 
. 
Bank overdraft 

TOTAL LIABILITIES 

NET ASSETS 

. 

. 

. 

EQUITY 
Called up share capital 
Capital redemption reserve 
Retained earnings 

. 

. 

TOTAL EQUITY 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

  Notes 

12 
14 
26 

16 
17 

18 

21 

19 

22 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

2017 
£000 

743 
708 
     3,862 

2016 
£000 

853
708 
          33

     5,313 

     1,594

2,576 
6,383 
529 
            – 

     9,488 

2,406
6,009 
522 
     2,948 

    11,885 

   14,801 

   13,479

        719 

          80 

     3,038 
        218 

     3,393
            –

     3,256 

     3,393 

     3,975 

     3,473

   10,826 

   10,006 

896 
112 
     9,818 

906 
102
     8,998

    10,826 

      10,006 

The inancial statements on pages 33 to 71 were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue 
on 14th November 2017 and were signed on its behalf by:

DaviD w Smart 
Director 

Company Number SC025130

John r Smart
Director

38

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS 
for the year ended 31st JULY 2017

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 

Tax (paid)/received 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

NET CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES 
. 
Additions to property, plant and equipment 
Additions to investment properties 
. 
Expenditure on own work capitalised - investment properties 
. 
. 
. 
Sale of property, plant and equipment  . 
. 
. 
Sale of investment properties 
 . 
. 
. 
Purchase of available for sale inancial assets   
. 
. 
Proceeds of sale of available for sale inancial assets  
. 
. 
Decrease/(increase) in monies held on deposit  
. 
. 
. 
Interest received  . 
. 
. 
. 
. 
Dividend received from Joint Ventures . 

. 

. 

NET CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES 
Purchase of own shares  . 
. 
Dividends paid 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

NET CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES 

INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS  . 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

  Notes 

.     23 (a) 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
.  
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

2017 
£000 

2,205 

2016  
£000

5,197

     (454) 

      634)

    1,751 

   5,831)

(487) 
(20) 
(2,559) 
70 
3,735 
(674) 
(8787) 
2,983) 
86 
           – 

(488)
(45) 
(1,655)
70
525
–)
1
(2,017)
125
        37

    3,221) 

  (3,447)

(550) 
     (846) 

(704)
     (846)

  (1,396) 

  (1,550)

     3,576  

      834

.  23 (b) 

  14,157 

 13,323

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR  

. 

.  

.  23 (b) 

  17,733 

 14,157

38

39

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS 
for the year ended 31st JULY 2017

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 

Tax received 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

NET CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Additions to property, plant and equipment 
Sale of property, plant and equipment  . 
. 
Interest received  . 
Dividend received from Joint Ventures  

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

NET CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES 
Purchase of own shares  . 
. 
Dividends paid 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

NET CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES 

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

(DECREASE)/INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR 

. 

  Notes 

2017)  
£000)  

2016) 
£000)

.  24 (a) 

(1,890)  

1,087)

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

      213)  

  1,084)

  (1,677)  

  2,171)

(122) 
24   
5  
           –)  

   (286)
59) 
12) 
       37)

       (93)  

    (178)

(550) 
      (846) 

(704)
    (846)

   (1,396) 

  (1,550)

  (3,166)  

     443)

.  24 (b) 

    2,948) 

  2,505) 

.  24 (b) 

      (218) 

         2,948)

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

40

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 

31st JULY 2017

1. 

ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES 

GENERAL INFORMATION 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC which is the ultimate Parent Company of the J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC 
Group is a public limited company registered in Scotland, incorporated in the United Kingdom and listed on the 
London Stock Exchange. 

STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE 
The  accounts  are  prepared  in  accordance  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  (IFRS)  and 
the 
International  Financial  Reporting  Interpretations  Committee  (IFRIC)  Interpretations  endorsed  by 
European Union (EU) and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under 
IFRS. 

STANDARDS, AMENDMENTS TO STANDARDS AND INTERPRETATIONS EFFECTIVE IN THE YEAR TO 31st JULY 2017 
The  following  new  standards  and  amendments  to  standards  and  interpretations  relevant  to  the  Group  have  
been  issued  by  the  International  Accounting  Standards  Board  and  are  mandatory  for  the  irst  time  for  the  
inancial year to 31st July 2017 but had no material impact on the inancial statements:
•  IAS 1 (amended): Presentation of inancial statements.
•  IAS 19 (amended): Employee Beneits.

NEW STANDARDS, AMENDMENTS TO STANDARDS AND INTERPRETATIONS NOT YET APPLIED 

The following new standards, amendments to standards and interpretations relevant to the Group have been issued 
by  the  International Accounting  Standards  Board  but  are  not  yet  effective  for  the  Group  at  the  date  of  these 
inancial statements, and have not been adopted early: 
•  IFRS 9: Financial Instruments (effective in the year ending 31st July 2019).
•  IFRS 15: Revenue from Contracts with Customers (effective in the year ending 31st July 2019).
•  IFRS 16: Leases (effective in the year ending 31st July 2020).
•  IAS 7 (amended): Statement of Cash Flows (effective in the year ending 31st July 2018).
•  IAS 12 (amended): Income Taxes (effective in the year ending 31st July 2018).
The Directors are to fully consider the implications and impact on the inancial statements of these Standards, 
especially  IFRS  15  and  IFRS  16.    Based  on  our  review  to  date  no  material  transitional  impact  has  been  
identiied as at 31st July 2017 in respect of IFRS 9 or IFRS 15.

BASIS OF PREPARATION 
The  accounts  have  been  prepared  on  a  going  concern  basis  and  under  the  historical  cost  convention  except  
where the measurement of balances at fair value is required as noted below for investment properties, available  
for sale inancial assets and assets held by the deined beneit pension scheme.
The accounting policies set out below have been consistently applied to all periods presented in these accounts. 
The  preparation  of  inancial  statements  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and  assumptions  concerning  
the  future  that  may  affect  the  application  of  accounting  policies  and  the  reported  amounts  of  assets  and  
liabilities  and  income  and  expenses.    Management  believes  that  the  estimates  and  assumptions  used  in  the 
preparation of these accounts are reasonable.  However, actual outcomes may differ from those anticipated. 

40

41

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

1. 

ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES (continued)

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS 
INVESTMENT PROPERTIES 
Investment properties are revalued annually by the Directors in accordance with the RICS Valuation Standards. 
The valuations are subjective due to, among other factors, the individual nature of the property, its location and the 
expected future rental income.  As a result, the valuation of the Group’s investment property portfolio incorporated 
into the inancial statements is subject to a degree of uncertainty and is made on the basis of assumptions which 
may prove to be inaccurate, particularly in periods of volatility or low transaction low in the property market.
The assumptions used by the Directors are market standard assumptions in accordance with the RICS Valuation 
Standards and include matters such as tenure and tenancy details, ground conditions of the properties and their 
structural conditions, prevailing market yields and comparable market conditions.  If any of the assumptions used 
by the Directors prove to be incorrect this could result in the valuation of the Group’s investment property portfolio 
differing from the valuation incorporated into the inancial statements and the difference could have a material 
effect on the inancial statements.

LONG-TERM CONTRACT PROVISIONS 
Judgement is required in the area of provisions for losses on long-term contracts. The Directors take into account 
the estimated costs to complete and the percentage stage of completion of current contracts when determining the 
provision for losses. The Directors consider adequate, but not excessive provisions have been made in this respect. 

RETIREMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATION 
The valuation of the retirement beneit obligation is dependent upon a series of assumptions, mainly discount rates, 
mortality rates, investment returns, salary inlation and the rate of pension increases, which are determined after 
taking expert advice from the Group’s Actuary.  If different assumptions were used then this could materially affect 
the results disclosed in the inancial statements.  These are set out in note 26 to the Accounts. 

BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION 
The  Group  accounts  consolidate  the  accounts  of  J.  Smart  &  Co.  (Contractors)  PLC  and  all  of  its  Subsidiaries 
made up to 31st July each year. Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Company. Control is assumed where the 
Company has the power to govern the inancial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain beneits from its 
activities. 
Intra-group  balances  and  any  income  or  expenses  arising  from  intra-group  transactions  are  eliminated  in 
preparing the Group accounts. 
No Income Statement is presented for the Parent Company as provided by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006. 

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS AND GOODWILL
Subsidiaries  acquired  in  the  year  are  accounted  for  using  the  acquisition  method  of  accounting.    Identiiable 
assets acquired and liabilities assumed are measured at their fair values at the acquisition date. The consideration 
transferred for the acquisition is the fair value of the assets given, equity instruments issued and liabilities incurred 
or assumed at the acquisition date.  The excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of 
the identiiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill.

42

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

1. 

ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES (continued)

INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURES 
Joint  Ventures  are  those  entities  over  which  the  Company  has  a  50%  holding  and  exercises  joint  control 
under  a  contractual  arrangement.  The  results  of  Joint  Venture  undertakings  are  accounted  for  using  the 
equity method of accounting. Under this method the investment is initially recorded at cost and is subsequently 
adjusted to relect the Group’s share of the net proit or loss in the Joint Venture. 
The Accounts  of  the  Group’s  Joint  Ventures  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  UK  GAAP.  The  Group’s 
interest in the assets and liabilities of the Joint Ventures have only been restated in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards where such restatement is considered material to an understanding of the Group’s 
interest.

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT 
Group  objectives  in  managing  capital  are  to  safeguard  the  interests  of  the  Company  to  operate  as  a  net 
debt free going concern, of its employees to maintain wherever possible security of employment, remuneration 
and retirement provisions and of its shareholders to maintain continuity of dividends and stability of share price. 
The  capital  structure  of  the  Group  consists  of  issued  share  capital,  reserves  and  retained  earnings  represented 
predominantly by investment properties, working capital and cash. 
These  assets  are  purchased,  managed  and  maintained  by  the  Group’s  management  and  employees,  advised 
where  appropriate  by  independent  outside  professionals.  Refer  to  pages  12  and  13  of  this  report  for  details  of 
relevant risk factors and management measures.
The Group has suficient cash reserves and readily realisable assets available to meet its foreseeable commitments. 

INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

Investment properties are properties, either owned by the Group or where the Group is a lessee under a inance 
lease, which are held for long-term rental income or for capital appreciation or both. Also, properties held under 
operating leases are accounted for as investment properties when the rest of the deinition of an investment property 
is met.

Investment properties, whether completed or under development, are initially recognised at cost and revalued at the 
Balance Sheet date to fair value as determined by the Directors in accordance with the RICS Valuation Standards. 
Gains or losses arising from the changes in fair value are included in the Income Statement in the year in which 
they arise. In accordance with IAS 40: Investment Property, as the Group uses the fair value model, no depreciation 
is provided in respect of investment properties including integral plant. 
Additions to investment properties consist of costs of a capital nature and, in the case of investment properties 
under development, includes certain internal staff and associated costs directly attributable to the management of 
the developments under construction. 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT 
Items of property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. 
Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying value or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only 
when it is probable that future economic beneits associated with the item will low to the Group and the cost of 
them can be measured reliably. All other repairs and maintenance expenditure is charged to the Income Statement 
as incurred. 

43

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

1. 

ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES (continued)

DEPRECIATION 
Depreciation  is  provided  on  all  items  of  property,  plant  and  equipment,  other  than  investment  properties  and 
freehold land, at rates calculated to write off the cost of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows: 
Freehold buildings 
Plant and machinery 
Ofice furniture and ittings 
Motor vehicles 

-  over 40 to 66 years 
-  25% to 33 1⁄3% reducing balance 
-  20% to 33 1⁄3% reducing balance 
-  33 1⁄3% reducing balance 

IMPAIRMENT REVIEWS
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Individual assets are grouped for impairment assessment purposes at the lowest level at which there are identiiable 
cash inlows independent of the cash inlows of other groups of assets.

The Group assesses at each Balance Sheet date whether there is an indication that an asset may be impaired.  If an 
indication exists the Group makes an estimate of the recoverable amount of each asset group, being the higher of 
its fair value less costs to sell and its value in use and is determined for an individual asset, unless the asset does not 
generate cash inlows that are largely independent of those from other assets or groups of assets.  An impairment 
loss is recognised where the recoverable amount is lower than the carrying value of assets.

If there is an indication that previously recognised impairment losses may have decreased or no longer exist, a 
reversal of the loss may be made.  The carrying amount of the asset is increased to its recoverable amount only up 
to the carrying amount that would have resulted, net of depreciation, had no impairment loss been recognised for 
the asset in prior years.

Impairment losses and any subsequent reversals are recognised in the Income Statement.

INVENTORIES AND WORK IN PROGRESS 
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. 
Land held for development is included at the lower of cost and net realisable value. 
Work in progress is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. 
Cost includes materials, on a irst-in irst-out basis and direct labour plus attributable overheads based on normal 
operating activity, where applicable. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less anticipated disposal 
costs. 
Variations  and  claims  are  included  in  Revenue  where  it  is  probable  that  the  amount,  which  can  be  measured 
reliably, will be recovered from the customer.

LONG-TERM CONTRACTS 
Amounts recoverable on contracts which are included in debtors are stated at cost as deined above, plus attributable 
proit to the extent that this is reasonably certain after making provision for maintenance costs, less any losses 
incurred or foreseen in bringing contracts to completion, and less amounts received as progress payments. 
For any contracts where receipts exceed the book value of work done, the excess is included in trade and other 
payables as payments on account. 

INCOME TAX 
The  charge  for  current  UK  corporation  tax  is  based  on  results  for  the  year  as  adjusted  for  items  that  are  non-
assessable or disallowed and any adjustments for tax payable in respect of previous years. It is calculated using 
rates that have been enacted or substantially enacted at the Balance Sheet date.

44

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

1. 

ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES (continued)

DEFERRED TAXATION 
Deferred tax is provided using the liability method in respect of temporary differences between the carrying value 
of assets and liabilities in the inancial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of 
taxable proit. Deferred tax is provided on all temporary differences.  The measurement of deferred tax relects the 
tax consequences that would follow the manner in which the Group expects, at the end of the reporting period, to 
recover or settle the carrying amounts of its assets and liabilities for Investment Properties that are measured at 
fair value.
Deferred tax is determined using tax rates that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the Balance Sheet 
date and are expected to apply when the deferred tax asset is realised or the deferred tax liability is settled.  It is 
recognised in the Income Statement except when it relates to items credited or charged directly to Equity, in which 
case the deferred tax is also dealt with in Equity. 
Deferred  tax  assets  are  recognised  to  the  extent  that  it  is  probable  that  future  taxable  proits  will  be  available 
against which the temporary differences can be utilised. 

PENSIONS 
The  Group  operates  a  deined  beneit  pension  scheme,  which  was  closed  to  new  members  during  the  year 
to 31st July 2003 and which requires contributions to be made to an administered fund. 
The  obligations  of  the  scheme  represent  beneits  accruing  to  employees  and  are  measured  at  discounted 
present  value  while  scheme  assets  are  measured  at  their  fair  value.  The  discount  rate  used  is  the  yield  on 
AA credit rated corporate bonds that have maturity dates approximating to the terms of the Group’s obligations. 
The calculation is performed by a qualiied actuary using the projected unit credit method. 
The  operating  and  inancial  costs  of  such  plans  are  recognised  separately  in  the  Income  Statement,  service 
costs are spread systematically over the working lives of the employees concerned and inancing costs are recognised 
in the year in which they arise.  Actuarial gains and losses are recognised immediately in the Consolidated Statement 
of Comprehensive Income. 
The Group also operates a deined contribution Group Personal Pension Plan for eligible employees. The plan is 
externally administered and professionally managed. Contributions payable are expensed to the Income Statement 
as incurred. 

LEASES 
Leases  are  classiied  according  to  the  substance  of  the  transaction.  A  lease  that  transfers  substantially  all 
the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee is classiied as a inance lease. All other leases are classiied as 
operating leases. 

GROUP AS A LESSEE 
In  accordance  with  IAS  40:  Investment  Property,  leases  of  investment  property  are  assessed  on  a  property 
by property basis.  Where future rentals are material, the properties are capitalised and treated as inance leases 
in accordance with IAS 17: Leases, otherwise properties are classiied as operating leases and rentals payable are 
charged to the Income Statement on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.
Other leases are classiied as operating leases and rentals payable are charged to the Income Statement on a straight 
line basis over the term of the lease. 

GROUP AS A LESSOR 
Properties leased out under operating leases are included in investment property, with rental income recognised on 
a straight line basis over the lease term. 

45

 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

1. 

ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES (continued) 

REVENUE 
Revenue, which is stated net of value added tax, represents the invoiced value of goods sold, except in the case 
of long-term contracts where revenue represents the amounts received and receivable for work done in the year. 
The measurement and stage of completion of long-term contracts are based on valuations agreed with third party 
surveyors. 
Proits on long-term contracts are calculated in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and 
do not relate directly to revenue. Proit on current contracts is only taken at a stage near enough to completion 
for that proit to be reasonably certain after making provision for contingencies, whilst provision is made for all 
losses incurred to the accounting date together with any further losses that are foreseen in bringing contracts to 
completion. The value of construction work transferred to investment properties is excluded from revenue. 
Revenue  from  investment  properties  comprises  rental  income,  service  charges,  insurance  receivable  and  other 
recoveries, and is disclosed as other operating income in the Income Statement. 
Rental income from investment property leased out under an operating lease is recognised in the Income Statement 
on a straight line basis over the term of the lease. 
Revenue from private housing sales is recognised when transactions are legally completed.
Revenue from private housing sales under shared equity scheme are accounted for at fair value. 

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 
Financial assets and inancial liabilities are recognised in the Group’s Statement of Financial Position when the 
Group becomes a party to the contractual provision of the instrument. The principal treasury objective is to provide 
suficient liquidity to meet operational cash requirements. The Group operates controlled treasury policies which 
are monitored by the Board to ensure that the needs of the Group are met as they arise. 

AVAILABLE FOR SALE FINANCIAL ASSETS 
Available for sale inancial assets represent investments in quoted shares which are recognised at fair value at the 
year end. The movement in fair value is transferred directly to Equity and shown in a separately designated Fair 
Value Reserve. 

TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES 
Trade  and  other  receivables  are  recognised  at  invoiced  value  less  provisions  for  impairment. A  provision  for 
impairment of trade receivables is established where there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to 
collect all amounts due according to the terms of the receivables concerned. 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 
Cash  and  cash  equivalents  comprise  cash  in  hand,  deposits  with  banks  and  other  short-term  highly  liquid 
investments  with  original  maturities  of  three  months  or  less.  For  the  Statement  of  Cash  Flows,  cash  and  cash 
equivalents consist of cash and cash equivalents as deined above, net of outstanding bank overdrafts.

MONIES HELD ON DEPOSIT 
Monies  held  on  deposit  with  original  maturity  dates  exceeding  three  months  are  disclosed  separately  in  the 
Statement of Financial Position.  As these monies originated from investing activities any movements in the year 
on these monies are disclosed under Investing Activities in the Statement of Cash Flows.

TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES 
Trade and other payables are non-interest bearing and are recognised at invoiced amount. 

46

47

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

1. 

ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES (continued)

MEASUREMENT OF FAIR VALUES
A  number  of  the  Group’s  accounting  policies  and  disclosures  require  the  measurement  of  fair  values,  for  both 
inancial and non-inancial assets and liabilities.

When measuring the fair value of an asset or a liability, the Group uses market observable data as far as possible.  
Fair values are categorised into different levels in a fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used in the valuation 
techniques as follows:
•  Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
•  Level 2: inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either  
  directly (i.e. as prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices).
•  Level 3: inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).

If the inputs used to measure the fair value of an asset or a liability might be categorised in different levels of the 
fair value hierarchy, then the fair value measurement is categorised in its entirety in the same level of the fair value 
hierarchy as the lowest level input that is signiicant to the entire measurement.

The Group recognises transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period during 
which a change has occurred.

Further information about the assumptions made in measuring fair values is included in the following notes:
•  Note 13 – Investment Properties;
•  Note 15 – Available for Sale Financial Assets;
•  Note 20 – Financial Instruments;
•  Note 26 – Retirement Beneit Obligations.

DIVIDENDS 
Final Dividends are recognised as a liability in the year in which they are approved by the Company’s shareholders. 
Interim Dividends are recognised when they are paid. 

47

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

2. 

SEGMENTAL INFORMATION 

IFRS 8: Operating Segments requires operating segments to be identiied on the basis of internal reporting about 
components of the Group that are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker to allow the allocation 
of resources to the segments and to assess their performance. The chief operating decision maker has been identiied 
as the Board of Directors. 
All revenue arises from activities within the UK and therefore the Board of Directors does not consider the business 
from a geographical perspective. The operating segments are based on activity and performance of an operating 
segment is based on a measure of operating results.

External 
Revenue 

£000) 

22,860) 
    6,090) 

Internal 
Revenue 

£000) 

2,559) 
          –) 

Total 
Revenue 

£000) 

25,419) 
  6,090) 

Operating
Proit / (Loss)

2017) 
£000) 

(673) 
    4,519) 

2016)
£000)

–)
         –) 

   28,950) 

   2,559) 

31,509) 

    3,846) 

         –)

2017 
Construction activities 
Investment activities 

2016 
Construction activities 
Investment activities 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

29,027) 
    5,520) 

1,655) 
          –) 

30,682) 
  5,520) 

  34,547) 

   1,655) 

36,202) 

OPERATING PROFIT  
. 
Share of results of Joint Ventures 
Finance and investment income  

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAX  

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

 . 
.      
.       

. 

–) 
           –) 

           –) 

  3,846  
42  
149)

    4,037) 

(102)
  3,616) 

  3,514)

3,514) 
33)  
     205)

  3,752) 

Internal revenue relates to own work capitalised, all other internal transactions are eliminated on consolidation. 
The Group had sales from construction activities from three customers amounting to £14,404,000 (2016, sales 
from construction activities from two customers amounting to £14,467,000).

48

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

2. 

SEGMENTAL INFORMATION (continued) 

OTHER SEGMENTAL INFORMATION 

2017 
Construction activities 
Investment activities 
Joint Ventures 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

Allocation of corporation tax debtor 

. 

2016 
Construction activities 
Investment activities 
Joint Ventures 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

Allocation of corporation tax debtor 

. 

3. 

OTHER OPERATING INCOME

Rental income 
Service charges and insurance receivable 

. 

. 

. 

Direct property costs 

Net rental income 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

  Non-Current 
Asset Additions  Depreciation 
£000 

£000 

Segment 

Segment 
Assets  Liabilities 
£000 

£000 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

316) 
2,750) 
           –) 

388) 
19) 
           –) 

16,606) 
92,790) 
       305) 

4,797)
11,046)
            –)

109,701) 

15,843)

. 

. 

. 

. 

      (582) 

      (582)

109,119) 

   15,261)

488) 
1,700) 
           –) 

465) 
–) 
           –) 

16,860) 
91,561) 
       263) 

4,749)
15,099)
            –)

. 

. 

. 

. 

      (554) 

      (554)

108,684) 

19,848)

108,130) 

   19,294)

2017) 
£000) 

2016) 
£000

5,515) 
       575) 

4,994) 
       526) 

6,090) 

5,520) 
   (2,653)          (2,164) 

    3,437)  

    3,356) 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

Direct  property  costs  included  £1,258,000  (2016,  £914,000)  in  respect  of  investment  properties  that  did  not 
generate rental income in the year. 

48

49

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

4. 

STAFF COSTS AND DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION 

Staff costs during the year amounted to: 
Wages, salaries and short term beneits. 
. 
. 
Social security costs 
. 
Post-employment beneits 

. 
. 

.  . 
.  . 
.  . 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

The average weekly number of employees during the year was made up as follows: 

Construction and related services. 
Ofice and management . 

. 

Directors’ remuneration: 

– Salaries and short term beneits 
. 
– Post-employment beneits 

. 
. 

. 
. 

.  . 
.  . 

.  . 
.  . 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
 . 

. 
.  

. 
. 

. 
. 

2017) 
£000) 

2016) 
£000) 

9,032) 
966) 
     1,007) 

9,784)         
1,051)  
       843)  

   11,005)  

    11,678)  

No.) 

No.) 

235) 
          25)  

275) 
         23) 

        260)  

       298) 

£000) 
465) 
          72) 

£000) 
457)
         59)

        537) 

       516) 

David W Smart and Alasdair H Ross are members of the Group’s deined beneit pension scheme.

John R Smart and Patricia Sweeney are members of the Group’s deined contribution Group Personal Pension Plan.

Key management is comprised solely of the Directors of the Company. Full details of Directors’ remuneration is 
given in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 20 to 25.

5. 

OPERATING PROFIT

This is stated after charging/(crediting):
. 
Cost of inventories recognised as an expense  . 
.  . 
. 
Staff costs (per note 4)  . 
.  . 
. 
Hire of plant and machinery 
.  . 
Contingent rents . 
. 
. 
.  . 
Depreciation of owned assets 
Proit on disposal of property, plant and equipment 
. 
Auditor remuneration and expenses – audit services  . 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

The audit fees for the Parent Company are £50,000 (2016, £50,000). 

6. 

INCOME FROM INVESTMENTS 

Dividend income from available for sale inancial assets 

. 

7. 

FINANCE INCOME 

. 

) 

Income: 

Interest on short term deposits  . 
. 

. 
  Other interest 
. 
. 
  Net interest income on retirement beneit obligations  

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

.  
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

2,044) 
11,005) 
721) 
83) 
407) 
(39) 

        112)    

7,074) 
11,678) 
651) 
75)
465)
(47) 
       104)

          32) 

         14

79) 
7) 
            9) 

111)
14)
         66)

          95) 

      191)

50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

8. 

TAXATION  

UK Corporation Tax
Current tax on income for the year 
Corporation tax under/(over) provided in previous years 

. 

. 

. 

Deferred taxation (note 21) 

. 

. 

Current Tax Reconciliation  
Proit on ordinary activities before tax . 
. 
Share of  proits of Joint Ventures 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

Current tax at 19.67% (2016, 20.00%) . 
Effects of: 
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes 
Other timing differences  
Non taxable income including revaluation surplus 
Effect of indexation allowances  on property sales 
Effect of change in tax rate 
. 
Adjustments to corporation tax charge in respect of prior years 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

) 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
.    
. 
. 
. 
. 

2017)  
£000) 

       2016) 
£000)

472)      

            1) 

512)
         (8)

473) 

504)

       (163) 

      (240)

        310) 

      264)

4,037) 
       (42) 

3,752)
       (33)

     3,995) 

   3,719)

786)      

744)

34) 
–  
(127)     
(185)   
(199)   
           1) 

6)
10)
(67)
–)
(421)
         (8)

        310) 

      264)

The Finance (No.2) Act 2015, which received Royal Assent on 18th November 2015, reduced the UK corporation 
tax rate to 19% for inancial years commencing 1st April 2017 to 1st April 2019 and to 18% for inancial years 
commencing  1st April  2020.    The  Finance Act  2016,  which  received  Royal Assent  on  15th  September  2016, 
reduced the rate to 17% for inancial years commencing 1st April 2020.

The effective corporation tax rate is 19.67% (2016, 20.00%) being the average rate applicable over the period.  
Deferred tax provisions have been calculated using the 17% rate.

In addition to amounts charged to the Income Statement, a deferred tax charge of £680,000 (2016, credit £215,000) 
relating to actuarial gains/(losses) on the deined beneit pension scheme has been recognised directly to Equity. 

The value of the deferred tax asset in respect of capital losses not recognised in the inancial statements amounted 
to £774,000 (2016, £1,340,000).

There are no income tax consequences attached to dividends paid or proposed by the Company to its shareholders.

50

51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

9. 

PROFIT  FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR   

Dealt with in the accounts of the Parent Company 
. 
Retained by Subsidiary and Joint Venture Companies 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

)2017)  
£000) 

       2016) 
£000)

(410) 
     4,137) 

(310)
   3,178

    3,727) 

    3,488)

The Group uses underlying proit before tax as an alternative performance measure, which is the proit before tax 
excluding net surplus or deicit on valuation of investment properties accounted for through the Income Statement. 
As the net surplus or deicit on valuation of investment properties can luctuate from year to year and is not a 
realised  surplus  or  loss  by  excluding  this  amount  a  truer  relection  of  actual  Group  performance  is  obtained. 
Analysis of this alternative performance measure is as follows:

. 
Proit before tax   
Surplus on valuation of investment properties  

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

10. 

DIVIDENDS 

2015 Final Dividend of 2.10p per share, after waivers 
.  
2016 Interim Dividend of 0.92p per share 
2016 Final Dividend of 2.15p per share, after waivers 
. 
2017 Interim Dividend of 0.95p per share 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

4,037) 
       (614) 

(3,752)
     (136)

    3,423) 

    3,616)

)

–) 
–) 
418) 
       428) 

425)
421)
–)
           –)

       846) 

       846) 

The Board is proposing a Final Dividend of 2.17p per share (2016, 2.15p) which, will cost the Company no more 
than £973,000. 

The proposed Final Dividend is subject to approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting and has not 
been included as a liability in these inancial statements. 

11. 

 EARNINGS PER SHARE 

Proit) 
attributable) 
to Equity) 
shareholders) 
£000)

Basic)
Earnings)   
per share) 

Year to 31st July 2017 

. 

Year to 31st July 2016 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

.  

. 

. 

    3,727) 

     8.26p 

         3,488) 

     7.61p

Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing the proit attributable to equity shareholders by the weighted 
average number of shares in issue during the year.

The weighted average number of shares for the year to 31st July 2017 amounted to 45,099,000 (2016, 45,845,000).

There is no difference between basic and diluted earnings per share.

52

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

12. 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

(a) GROUP 

Cost: 
  At 1st August 2016 
  Additions 
  Disposals 

. 
. 

  At 31st July 2017 

. 
. 
. 

. 

Depreciation:  
  At 1st August 2016 
. 
  Provided during year . 
. 
  Disposals 

. 

  At 31st July 2017 

Net book value: 
  At 31st July 2017 

Cost: 
  At 1st August 2015 
  Additions 
  Disposals 

. 
. 

  At 31st July 2016 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

Depreciation: 
. 
  At 1st August 2015 
  Provided during year . 
. 
  Disposals 

. 

  At 31st July 2016 

Net book value: 
  At 31st July 2016 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

Land and 
buildings 
Freehold 
£000 

Plant,)
equipment)
and vehicles) 
£000) 

Total) 
£000) 

896 
– 
            – 

5,920) 
487) 
       (472) 

6,816) 
487
      (472)

        896 

      5,935) 

      6,831)

553 
19 
            – 

4,881) 
388) 
        (441) 

5,434) 
407) 
     (441)

        572 

      4,828) 

      5,400)

        324 

      1,107) 

      1,431)

896 
– 
            – 

5,760) 
488) 
        (328) 

6,656) 
488)
      (328)

        896 

      5,920) 

    6,816)

534 
19 
            – 

4,740) 
446) 
        (305) 

5,274) 
465) 
      (305) 

        553 

      4,881) 

    5,434)

        343 

      1,039) 

    1,382) 

Included within Freehold Land and Buildings is land costing £13,000 (2016, £13,000) which is not depreciated.

53

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

Plant,) 
 Land and) 
 buildings) 
equipment) 
 Freehold)  and vehicles) 
£000) 

£000) 

Total)
£000)

361) 
–) 
             –) 

2,729) 
122) 
        (105) 

3,090) 
122) 
       (105) 

        361) 

      2,746) 

     3,107)

115) 
5) 
             –) 

         120) 

2,122) 
214) 
          (92) 

2,237) 
219)
         (92) 

      2,244) 

     2,364)             

         241) 

         502) 

        743)

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
.        
. 
. 

361) 
–) 
            –) 
            –) 

2,719) 
286) 
       (230) 
         (46) 

3,080)
286)
       (230)
         (46)

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

         361) 

      2,729)  

     3,090)

110) 
5) 
            –) 
            –) 

2,113) 
265) 
       (216) 
         (40) 

2,223) 
270)
       (216)
         (40)

         115) 

      2,122) 

     2,237)

         246) 

         607) 

        853)

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

.  

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

 . 

.  

12. 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (continued) 

(b) COMPANY 

Cost: 
  At 1st August 2016 
  Additions 
  Disposals 

. 
. 

  At 31st July 2017 

. 
. 
. 

. 

Depreciation: 
  At 1st August 2016 
. 
  Provided during year . 
. 
  Disposals 

. 

  At 31st July 2017 
) 
Net book value: 
  At 31st July 2017 

Cost: 
  At 1st August 2015 
  Additions 
. 
  Disposals 
. 
  Group transfers 

  At 31st July 2016 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

Depreciation: 
  At 1st August 2015 
. 
  Provided during year . 
. 
. 
  Disposals 
. 
  Group transfer s 

  At 31st July 2016 

Net book value: 
  At 31st July 2016 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

.  

. 
. 
. 

.  

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

.  
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

13. 

INVESTMENT PROPERTIES 

Cost or valuation: 
. 
  At 1st August 2016 
. 
  Additions 
  Disposals 
. 
  Surplus on valuation   

. 
. 

  At 31st July 2017 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

Cost or valuation: 
  At 1st August 2015 
  Additions 
  Disposals 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
(Deicit)/surplus on valuation 

. 
. 
. 

  At 31st July 2016 

. 

. 

Land and) 
buildings) 
Freehold) 
£000) 

56,630) 
1,326) 
(3,122) 
         610) 

Land and)
buildings)
Leasehold) 
£000) 

Total  
£000) 

8,098) 
1,253) 
–) 
              4) 

64,728) 
2,579) 
(3,122)
         614) 

    55,444) 

       9,355) 

     64,799)

55,330) 
1,664) 
(339) 
         (25) 

7,901) 
36) 
–) 
         161) 

63,231)
1,700)
(339)
         136) 

    56,630) 

       8,098) 

      64,728)

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
.  

. 

. 
. 
. 
.  

. 

Valuation Process
The Group’s investment properties are valued by David W Smart, MRICS, who is a Director of the Parent Company, 
on  the  basis  of  fair  value,  in  accordance  with  the  RICS Valuation  –  Global  Standards  2017,  incorporating  the 
International Valuations Standards, and RICS Professional Standards UK January 2014 (revised April 2015).  As 
in previous years, external valuers have reviewed a sample of the Group’s investment properties and provided 
a  report  to  the  Group  detailing  the  valuations  they  would  have  placed  on  the  sample  of  investment  properties 
reviewed.  The valuations prepared by the Director and the external valuers are compared to ensure that there are 
no material variations between the valuations. 

Investment properties, excluding ongoing developments, are valued using the investment method of valuation.  
This  approach  involves  applying  capitalisation  yields  to  current  and  estimated  future  rental  streams  and  then 
allowing for voids arising from vacancies and rent free periods and associated running costs.  The capitalisation 
yields and rental values are based on comparable property and leasing transactions in the market, using the valuers’ 
professional judgment and market observations.  Other factors taken into account in the valuations include the 
tenure of the property, tenancy details and ground and structural conditions.

In the case of ongoing developments, the approach applied is the residual method of valuation, which is the same as 
the investment method, as described above, with a deduction for all costs necessary to complete the development, 
together with a further allowance for remaining risk.

In accordance with IAS 40: Investment Property, net annual surpluses or deicits are taken to the Income Statement 
and no depreciation is provided in respect of these properties.

55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

13. 

INVESTMENT PROPERTIES (continued)

The Group considers all of its investment properties fall within ‘Level 3’ of the fair value hierarchy as described 
by IFRS 13: Fair Value Measurement.  Level 3 valuations are those using inputs for the asset or liability that are 
not based on observable market data.  The main unobservable inputs relate to estimated rental value and equivalent 
yield.  There have been no transfers of properties in the fair value hierarchy in the inancial year.  The table below 
summarises the key unobservable inputs used in the valuation of the Group’s investment properties as at 31st July 
2017:

Fair Value 
at 31 July 
2017 
£000 

15,089 
49,710 

Investment
Commercial 
Industrial 

      Estimated Rental Value 
£ per sq ft 
Low  Average   High 

9.00 
4.00 

12.00 
6.25 

15.00 
8.50 

Equivalent Yield
%
High

Low  Average 

10.2 
7.7 

10.5 
8.4 

11.3
10.2

The following table illustrates the impact of changes in the key unobservable inputs (in isolation) on the fair value 
of the Group’s investment properties as at 31st July 2017:

Fair Value 
at 31 July 
2017 
£000 

15,089 
49,710 

      5% change in estimated 
rental value 
Decrease 
£000 

Increase 
     £000 

   25bps change in equivalent 
yield
    Increase
 £000

 Decrease 
£000 

760 
2,383 

(760) 
(2,383) 

398 
1,405 

(380)
(1,328)

Investment
Commercial 
Industrial 

The Group had obligations of £1,472,000 (2016, £nil) in respect of developments and repair costs of investment 
properties at the Balance Sheet date.

56

57

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

14. 

INVESTMENTS 

Shares in Subsidiaries at Cost  . 
. 
Joint Ventures 

. 

. 

Group 

2017 
£000 

2016 
£000 

Company 

2017) 
£000) 

2016) 
£000) 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

– 
         305 

– 
         263 

708) 
             –) 

708) 
            – )

         305 

         263 

         708)  

         708) 

(a) JOINT VENTURES 
At 31st July 2017 the Group’s interests in its Joint Venture Companies are not considered to be material and the 
aggregate inancial information for these associate companies is as follows:

Aggregate carrying amount of individually immaterial associates  . 

Aggregate carrying amount of the Group’s share of:    
. 
Proit from continuing activities 

. 

. 

Total comprehensive income 

Dividend received 

. 

. 

. 

. 

 . 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

2017) 
£000)  

20161 
£000)

         305) 

         263)

           42) 

           33)

           42) 

           33)

              –) 

          (37)

            42) 

            (4)

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

The Group accounts for all Joint Ventures using the equity method of accounting.

57

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

14. 

INVESTMENTS (continued) 

(a) JOINT VENTURES (continued) 

Name of Joint Venture 
Prestonield Development Company Limited 
Northrigg Limited 
Duff Street Limited 
Invertiel Developments Limited 

Registered in and 
Principal Country 
of Operation 
Scotland 
Scotland 
Scotland 
Scotland 

J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC 
Interest in Joint Venture’s Capital 
50% 
50% 
50% 
50% 

Name of Joint Venture 

Jointly managed with 

Issued Share capital 

Prestonield Development  
Company Limited 

Westerwood 
Limited 

Northrigg Limited  

William Sanderson 

Duff Street Limited 

Kiltane Developments 
Limited 

Invertiel Developments  
Limited 

DKG Estates LLP 

2 ordinary £1 
shares split equally
into A & B shares
and ranking equally 
in all respects

2 ordinary £1 
shares split equally
into A & B shares
and ranking equally
in all respects 

100 ordinary £1 
shares split equally
into A & B shares
and ranking equally
in all respects

100 ordinary £1 
shares split equally
into A & B shares
and ranking equally
in all respects 

Issued shares held
by J. Smart & Co.
(Contractors) PLC

1 B Share

1 A Share

50 A Shares

50 A Shares 

All  of  the  Joint  Venture  companies  were  established  for  the  purposes  of  property  development  and  all  have 
accounting years ending on 31st July.

Prestonield Development Company Limited was dissolved on 22nd August 2017.

Invertiel Developments Limited became dormant in the year. 

58

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

14. 

INVESTMENTS (continued) 

(b) SUBSIDIARIES 

At 1st August 2016 and 31st July 2017  

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

2017) 
£000) 
         708) 

2016)
£000)
        708)

On 3rd August 2016 the Company acquired the entire issued share capital of newly incorporated company Smart 
Serviced Ofices Limited for £100 being the nominal value of the shares issued. 

At 31st July 2017 the Company held the entire issued share capital of the following companies, all of which are 
registered in and operate in Scotland: 

McGowan and Company (Contractors) Limited  Plumbing contractors 
Cramond Real Estate Company Limited 
Thomas Menzies (Builders) Limited 
Concrete Products (Kirkcaldy) Limited 
C. & W. Assets Limited 
Smart Serviced Ofices Limited 

Investment holding 
Civil Engineering contractors 
Manufacture of concrete building products 
Property company
Serviced ofice space provider

15.   AVAILABLE FOR SALE FINANCIAL ASSETS 

Group 

2017) 
£000) 

2016) 
£000) 

Listed investments 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

      1,000) 

        326)

Fair value movement on shares held at 31st July 2017 before tax amounted to £65,000 (2016, £(10,000)).

There has been no impairment adjustment on available for sale inancial assets in this or the previous year.

As the Group’s available for sale inancial assets consisted entirely of equities of companies listed on quoted markets 
then these fall within ‘Level 1’ of the fair value hierarchy as described by IFRS 13: Fair Value Measurement.  Level 
1 valuations are those using inputs which are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or 
liabilities the Company can access at the year end date.

58

59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

16. 

INVENTORIES 

. 
Long-term contract balances 
. 
Work in progress . 
Land held for development 
. 
Raw materials and consumables 
. 
Finished goods 

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

CONTRACTS IN PROGRESS AT 
THE BALANCE SHEET DATE: 
Aggregate amount of costs incurred and 
recognised proits less recognised losses to date 
. 
Retentions outstanding  . 
. 
. 
Advances received 

. 
. 

. 
. 

Net value of contracts in progress 

. 

17. 

TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES 

. 

CURRENT ASSETS: 
Trade receivables  
. 
Amounts owed by Subsidiaries . 
. 
Other receivables  
Prepayments and accrued income 
Amounts recoverable on contracts 
Loans to Joint Venture companies 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

2017) 
£000) 
–) 
172) 
2,372) 
156) 
      181) 

   2,881) 

Group 

Company 

2016) 
£000) 
55) 
420) 
1,953) 
168) 
         88) 

2017) 
£000) 
–) 
172) 
2,372) 
32)  
           –) 

2016) 
£000) 
–)
420)
1,953)
33) 
           –)

    2,684) 

   2,576) 

    2,406)

12,131) 
318) 
 (12,203) 

20,948) 
534) 
(22,060) 

9,505) 
318) 
(10,001) 

19,471)
534)
 (20,724)

       246) 

      (578) 

     (178) 

      (719)

2,146  
–  
327  
371  
1,781  
   1,098  

   5,723  

2,342  
–  
147  
381  
2,402  
   1,097  

591  
2,841  
224  
272  
1,357  
   1,098  

454  
1,688  
163  
291  
2,316  

    1,097

    6,369  

   6,383  

    6,009

 . 
 . 
 . 
 . 
 . 

 . 
 . 
 . 

 . 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

Trade receivables are shown net of provision for doubtful debts of £44,000 (2016, £30,000).

The ageing of past due but not impaired trade debtors is as follows:

Less than 30 days 
30 to 60 days 
 Greater than 60 days 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

1,471  
632  
        43  

   2,146  

1,870  
281  
      191  

560  
31  
           –  

422
32
           –

   2,342  

       591  

       454

Trade receivables includes £570,000 (2016, £220,000) in respect of outstanding retentions. 

The loans to Joint Venture companies (note 14(a)) are repayable on demand. The Group has charged interest on 
one loan to a Joint Venture Company at a rate of 1% above the Group’s banker’s base rate. 

Amounts owed by subsidiaries are repayable on demand and are interest free.

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximates to their fair value.

60

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

18. 

BANK 

Cash and cash equivalents comprise the following: 

Group 

Cash at bank and on hand 
. 
Short term deposits 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

2017 
£000  
15,129 
   11,395 

2016 
£000 
13,837 
   12,948 

Company

2017 
£000  
– 
            – 

2016
£000
2,948
            –

   26,524 

   26,785 

             – 

     2,948

Monies held on deposit are held in bank accounts which have original maturity dates exceeding three months and 
therefore do not meet the criteria of cash and cash equivalents as deined in IAS 7: Statement of Cash Flows.

The  bank  has  been  granted  guarantees  and  letters  of  offset  by  each  member  of  the  Group  in  favour  of 
the bank on account of all other members of the Group as a continuing security for all monies, obligations and 
liabilities owing or incurred to the bank. 

19. 

TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES 

. 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Trade payables 
. 
Amounts owed to Subsidiaries  . 
Other taxes and social security costs 
Other creditors and accruals 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

2,063 
– 
220 
     2,102 

     4,385 

1,629 
– 
498 
     3,007 

1,444 
60 
143 
    1,391 

893 
118 
172
     2,210 

     5,134 

    3,038 

     3,393

Included in Other creditors and accruals are contract loss provisions.

20. 

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 

The Group’s inancial instruments comprise of bank balances and cash, available for sale inancial assets, trade 
receivables and trade payables. The amounts presented in relation to trade receivables are net of allowances for 
doubtful receivables. 

The carrying amount of these assets approximates to their fair value. 

CREDIT RISK 

In relation to the Group’s inancial assets, the Group has no signiicant concentration of credit risk, as exposure is 
spread over a number of counterparties and customers. 

There is no signiicant impairment loss recognised or signiicant receivables that are past due but not impaired.

The Group has assessed that there is no signiicant credit risk in relation to loans to Joint Venture companies given 
the underlying value of the assets held by these entities.

IFRS 7:  Financial  Instrument  Disclosures  requires  a  company  to  undertake  a  sensitivity  analysis  on  its 
inancial  instruments  which  are  affected  by  changes  in  interest  rates.  The  Group  inancial  instruments 
affected  by  interest  rate  luctuations  are  bank  deposits  and  bank  overdrafts.    Based  on  the  Group’s  net 
position  at  the  year  end,  a  1%  increase  or  decrease  in  the  interest  rates  would  change  the  Group’s  proit 
before  tax  by  approximately  £183,000  and  £79,000  respectively  (2016,  £196,000  and  £111,000  respectively).

60

61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

21. 

DEFERRED TAXATION 

DEFERRED TAX ASSETS    

GROUP 

. 
At 1st August 2015 
Credited to Income Statement  . 

. 

At 31st July 2016 

. 

. 

Credited to Income Statement  . 

At 31st July 2017 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

.  

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

Other  

£000
27
          14)

           41

          17)

          58)

Deferred tax assets arising in respect of valuation surpluses on Investment Properties of £774,000 (2016, £1,340,000) 
have not been recognised because it is not probable that relevant future taxable proits will be available against 
which the Group can use the beneits therefrom. 

DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES
GROUP 

. 
At 1st August 2015 
. 
Credited to Equity 
Credited to Income Statement  . 

. 
. 

At 31st July 2016 

. 

. 

. 
Charged to Equity 
Credited to Income Statement   . 

. 

At 31st July 2017 

. 

. 

COMPANY 

At 1st August 2015 
Credited to Equity 
Credited to Income Statement 

. 
. 

At 31st July 2016 

. 

Charged to Equity 
Credited to Income Statement 

. 

At 31st July 2017 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

62

  Accelerated   Retirement  
Beneit  

Capital  

Other
Timing

  Allowances   Obligations   Differences  
£000  
                £000  

£000  

Total
£000  

1,478  
–) 
         (150) 

294  
(215) 
        (73) 

58  
–  
          (3) 

1,830  
(215) 
      (226) 

      1,328  

           6  

         55  

    1,389

–  
        (114) 

680) 
        (29) 

–  
         (3) 

680) 
      (146)

      1,214  

       657  

         52  

    1,923

 Accelerated      Retirement                Other

                      Capital             Beneit              Timing  
               Allowances      Obligations       Differences  
                         £000                 £000                  £000  
36              294                 45  
–             (215)                 –  
                        (5)             (73)                 (2) 

Total
£000
375  
(215)
        (80) 

           31                  6

         43              80

– 

680                   –  
         (10)              (29)                (2) 

680)
        (41) 

           21             657

         41            719

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

22. 

SHARE CAPITAL 

Issued and fully paid ordinary shares of 2p each
. 
At 1st August 2016 
. 
. 
Purchased and cancelled  

. 
. 

. 
. 

At 31st July 2017 

. 

. 

. 

. 

  2017 

2016

 Number  

£000  

Number  

£000

. 
. 

. 

45,304,000  
    (500,000) 

906  
     (10) 

44,804,000  

    896  

45,974,000  
   (670,000) 
45,304,000   

919
       (13)

      906

During the year to 31st July 2017 the Company purchased for cancellation 500,000 ordinary shares of 2p each with 
a nominal value of £10,000 for a consideration of £550,000.

All shareholders of ordinary shares have a right to receive dividends paid by the Company in accordance with their 
shareholding. Each shareholder has the right to attend and vote at a General Meeting and each share attracts one 
vote. There are no restrictions on the distribution of dividends or repayment of capital.

23.  NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS 

(a) RECONCILIATION OF PROFIT BEFORE TAX TO CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
Proit before tax  . 
. 
Share of proits  from Joint Ventures 
Depreciation 
. 
. 
Unrealised valuation surplus on investment properties 
. 
Proit on sale of property, plant and equipment 
. 
. 
Proit on sale of investment properties . 
. 
Proit on sale of available for sale inancial assets 
. 
Change in retirement beneits 
. 
Interest received . 
. 
Change in inventories 
. 
Change in receivables 
. 
Change in payables 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

(b) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS FOR STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS 
. 
Cash and cash equivalents 
. 
. 
Bank overdraft 
. 
. 
Net position 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

2017  
£000  

4,037  
(42) 
407  
(614) 
(39) 
(613) 
(22) 
(523) 
(86) 
(197) 
646) 
      (749) 

2016  
£000  

3,752
(33)
465
(136)
(47)
(186)
–)
(817) 
(125) 
3,051
((1,861)
      1,134)

        2,205   

      5,197

£000) 
26,524  
    (8,791) 
   17,733   

£000
26,785  
  (12,628)
    14,157

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

(c) ANALYSIS OF NET FUNDS 

Cash and cash equivalents 
.  
Bank overdraft 

. 

Net funds  

. 

. 

. 
 . 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

63

At 1st  
 August 2016  
£000  
26,785  
   (12,628)  

Cash  
Flow  
£000  
(261) 
     3,837)  

At 31st  
July 2017  
£000  
26,524     
    (8,791)

    14,157  

     3,576  

    17,733

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

 . 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

24.  NOTES TO THE COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS 

(a) RECONCILIATION OF (LOSS)/PROFIT BEFORE TAX TO CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 

. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
(Loss)/proit before tax  . 
Depreciation 
. 
. 
Proit  on sale of property, plant and equipment 
. 
Dividend received from Joint Ventures  
. 
. 
Change in retirement beneits 
. 
. 
Interest received . 
. 
. 
Change in inventories 
. 
. 
Change in receivables 
. 
Change in payables 
. 
. 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

(b) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS FOR STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS 
. 
Cash and cash equivalents 
. 
. 
Bank overdraft 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

2017  
£000  

(671) 
219  
(11) 
–) 
(523) 
(5) 
(170) 
(374) 
      (355) 
    (1,890) 

2016
£000  

(77)
270
(39)
(37)
(817)
(12) 

3,044
((2,131)
       732)
    1,087

–  
2,948
      (218) 
           –)
        (218)        2,948

(c) ANALYSIS OF NET FUNDS  

Cash and cash equivalents 
. 
Bank overdraft 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

At 1st    
  August 2016  
£000  
.              2,948  
.                     –) 
     2,948)  

Cash   At 31st
Flow  July 2017
£000  
(2,948) 
      (218) 
    (3,166) 

£000  
–
      (218)
      (218)

25. 

FUTURE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE 

There were no amounts of Capital Expenditure relating to Property, plant and equipment contracted for at 31st July 
2017 or 31st July 2016. 
The Group’s share of Capital Expenditure contracted for by its Joint Ventures as at 31st July 2017 amounted to 
£nil (2016, £nil). 

64

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

26. 

RETIREMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS 

The Group operates a deined beneit pension scheme for certain active and former employees of the Group.  The 
scheme was closed to new members in the year to 31st July 2003. The scheme is subject to the funding legislation 
outlined in the Pensions Act 2004 together with documents issued by the Pensions Regulator and Guidance Notes 
adopted by the Financial Reporting Council.

The  scheme  is  administered  by  a  separate  Board  of  Trustees  which  is  composed  of  employer  nominated 
representatives and member nominated Trustees and is a separate legal entity.  The assets of the scheme are held 
separately from the assets of the Group and are administered and managed professionally under the supervision 
of the Trustees.  The Trustees are required by law to act in the best interests of all classes of beneiciaries to the 
scheme and are responsible for the investment policy and the day-to-day running of the scheme.  The Trustees 
are also responsible for jointly agreeing with the employer the level of contributions due to the Pension scheme.

The scheme provides qualifying employees with an annual pension based on inal pensionable salary on attainment 
of a normal retirement age of 65.  Active members also beneit from life assurance cover. However the payment of 
these beneits are at the discretion of the Trustees of the scheme.

The  pension  scheme’s  independent  qualiied Actuary  carries  out  a  triennial  valuation  using  the  Projected  Unit 
Credit Method to determine the level of the scheme’s surplus or deicit.  The last completed triennial valuation was 
as at 31st October 2015 which revealed a surplus of £2,783,000, representing a funding level of 110%. Following 
this latest triennial valuation the Group and the scheme Trustees agreed that employer contributions to the scheme 
as from 31st October 2017 would increase from 27.8% to 31.9% and employee contributions are to remain at 3%.

There were no outstanding contributions at the year end.

The Group expects to pay a contribution of £766,000 during the inancial year to 31st July 2018.                                

ASSUMPTIONS
The inancial assumptions used to calculate scheme liabilities under IAS 19 (amended): Employee Beneits are: 

. 
. 

. 
. 
Valuation method 
. 
Discount rate 
. 
. 
. 
Inlation rate - Retail price index 
Inlation rate - Consumer price index  . 
. 
Salary increases  . 
. 
Pension increases 

. 
. 

. 
. 

2017 
Projected Unit 
2.5% 
3.2% 
2.3% 
3.2% 
 1.8% – 3.4% 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

2016 
Projected Unit 
2.3% 
2.6% 
1.7% 
2.6% 
1.5% – 3.0% 

2015
Projected Unit 
3.5% 
3.0%
2.0%
3.0%
1.9% – 3.0% 

The mortality assumptions imply the following expectations of years of life from age 65: 

2016 
21.9 
23.7 
23.0 
25.0 

. 
. 
. 
. 

2015 
21.9 
23.9 
23.2 
25.4 

2014
22.0 
24.3
23.3 
25.8

Man currently aged 65  . 
Woman currently aged 65 
Man currently aged 45  . 
Woman currently aged 45 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

26. 

RETIREMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS (continued) 

SENSITIVITY TO KEY ASSUMPTIONS

The  scheme  exposes  the  Group  to  actuarial  risks,  such  as  interest  rate  risk,  inlation  risk,  longevity  risk  and 
investment risk.  The key assumptions used for IAS 19 are discount rate, inlation rates and mortality.  If different 
assumptions were used then this could materially affect the results disclosed in the inancial statements.  Movements 
in the key assumptions would have the following effect on the level of the deicit:

 Change in assumption 

Discount rate 
Inlation rate 
Mortality rate 

. 
 Decrease of 0.25% 
 Increase of 0.25% 
. 
 Increase in life expectancy of 1 year 

. 
. 

. 
. 

Increase in scheme liabilities
2016
£000

2017 
£000 

. 
. 
. 

.  
. 
 . 

. 
. 
. 

1,199 

322   
1,265 

 1,298
456
1,267

The sensitivity information has been prepared using the same methodology as the calculation of the current year 
scheme obligations.

BALANCE SHEET DISCLOSURES 

The investments held by the scheme and the reconciliation of the scheme assets and liabilities to the Balance Sheet 
were:

EQUITIES   
UK 
. 
Overseas   
Multi-asset diversiied funds 
Absolute return funds 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

BONDS 
Government 
Corporate  

OTHER 
Cash 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

Fair value of scheme assets 
Present value of scheme liabilities 
Scheme surplus 
. 
Deferred taxation  
Net pension scheme surplus 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

  Valuation  
2017  
£000  

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

10,861  
16,012  
2,425  
946  

991  
2,924  

   3,729  

37,888  
(34,026) 
3,862  
     (657) 
    3,205  

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

Valuation  
2016  
£000  

10,637  
13,741  
1,594  
946  

1,069  
3,223  

    3,477  

34,687  
(34,654) 
33  
         (6) 
        27  

Valuation
2015
£000

9,336
13,342
2,547
–

166
2,813

   3,530

31,734
(30,262)
1,472
     (294)
   1,178

66

67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017 

26. 

RETIREMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS (continued) 

The assets of the scheme are invested in funds managed by Standard Life Wealth, in direct investments via Speirs 
&  Jeffrey,  in  insurance  policies  with  companies  belonging  to  the  Royal  London  Group  and  in  bank  accounts.  
The assets do not include any directly owned ordinary shares issued by J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC.  The 
fair value of the assets of the pension scheme are determined based on publicly available market prices wherever 
available.

2017  
£000  

2016
£000  

     (707) 

     (555)

791  
    (782) 

1,113       
  (1,047)

          9  

         66

  34,654  
707  
782  
(60) 
44  
(1,628) 

(593)        
(157) 
      277  

30,262

555  

1,047

(60) 
53  
(1,153) 
(157)  
(447) 

    4,554

     34,026  

  34,654

The following amounts are incorporated into the inancial statements 

. 

. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

Analysis of amounts charged to operating proit: 
. 
Service cost 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

Analysis of amounts charged to net inance income: 
Interest income 
Interest costs 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 

. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

Movement in present value of deined beneit obligations:
. 
. 
. 
At 1st August 2016 
. 
. 
. 
Service cost 
. 
. 
. 
Interest cost 
. 
. 
Charges paid 
. 
. 
. 
Employee contributions  
. 
. 
. 
Beneit payments  
Actuarial movements due to scheme experiences 
. 
. 
Actuarial movements due to changes in demographic assumptions  . 
. 
Actuarial movements due to changes in inancial assumptions 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

At 31st July 2017 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

26. 

RETIREMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS (continued) 

Movement in fair value of scheme assets:
. 
. 
At 1st August 2016 
. 
Interest income    
. 
. 
Employer contributions . 
. 
Employee contributions . 
. 
. 
Beneits paid 
Charges paid 
. 
. 
Return on plan assets excluding amount shown in interest income  . 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 

At 31st July 2017 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

Movement in scheme surplus: 
. 
. 
At 1st August 2016 
. 
. 
Current service cost 
. 
. 
Contributions 
Net inance income 
. 
. 
Actuarial remeasurement of pension scheme liability  

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

At 31st July 2017 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

2017  
£000  

2016
£000  

34,687  
791  
1,221  
44  
(1,628) 
(60) 
      2,833  

31,734  
1,113
1,306  
53  
(1,153) 
(60) 
    1,694) 

    37,888  

  34,687

33  
(707) 
1,221  
9  
     3,306) 

1,472
(555)
1,306  
66  
   (2,256)

      3,862  

         33

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 

Analysis of the actuarial gain/(loss) included in the statement of comprehensive income:
Return on scheme assets excluding amounts shown in interest income 
Changes in assumptions underlying present value of scheme liabilities 

. 
. 

. 
. 

2,833  
        473) 

1,694)
   (3,950)

At 31st July 2017 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

.  

      3,306) 

   (2,256)

History of experience gains and losses: 
Return on scheme assets 
Amount (£000) 
. 
Percentage of market value of scheme assets 
Changes in assumptions underlying present value of
scheme liabilities 

. 

. 

. 

. 
.  

. 

. 

. 

Amount (£000) 
. 
Percentage of market value of scheme liabilities  . 
Total amounts included in Consolidated Statement of 
Comprehensive Income 
Amount (£000) 
. 
Percentage of market value of scheme liabilities  .  

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

2017 

2,833 
7.5% 

2016 

2015 

2014 

2013 

1,694 
4.9% 

802 
2.5% 

(743) 
2.5% 

2,776 
9.7%

473 
1.4% 

(3,950) 
11.4% 

(1,805) 
6.0% 

(1,050) 
3.8% 

446 
1.7%

3,306 
9.7% 

(2,256) 
6.5% 

(1,003) 
3.3% 

(1,793)  3,222 
6.4%   12.4% 

. 
. 

. 
. 

. 
. 

68

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

26. 

RETIREMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS (continued) 

DEFINED CONTRIBUTION SCHEMES

In the year to 31st July 2003 the Group commenced operation of a deined contribution Group Personal Pension 
Plan for eligible employees. The plan is externally administered and managed professionally by AEGON UK. The 
net contribution to the plan for the year was £212,000 (2016, £188,000). 

STAKEHOLDER SCHEMES

The Group has stakeholder pension arrangements for those employees not eligible for membership of either the 
Deined Beneit or Deined Contribution schemes.  The Group makes contributions to these schemes and has no 
liability beyond these contributions.  The contributions to these schemes in the year amounted to £62,000 (2016, 
£70,000) and are expensed through the Income Statement as incurred. 

MULTI EMPLOYER SCHEME

The  Group  is  also  a  member  of  the  multi-employer  pension  scheme,  Plumbing  &  Mechanical  Services  (UK) 
Industry Pension Scheme.  The Group makes contributions to this scheme which in the year amounted to £26,000 
(2016, £30,000) and are expensed through the Income Statement as incurred.

No provision has been made for amounts payable by the Group in respect of Section 75 pension liabilities relating 
to the Group’s participation in this scheme given that, as at the date of these inancial statements, any potential 
liability has not yet been assessed.

27. 

CONTINGENT LIABILITIES 

The  Company  and  certain  of  its  Subsidiaries  have,  in  the  normal  course  of  business,  entered  into  
counter-indemnities  in  respect  of  performance  bonds  relating  to  their  contracts.    As  at  31st  July  2017  these  
amounted to £1,744,000.

28.  OPERATING LEASE ARRANGEMENTS 

GROUP – AS LESSEE 
Future minimum lease payments payable under non-cancellable operating leases: 

. 
Within one year  . 
In two – ive years exclusively  . 
. 
After ive years  . 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

2017 
£000 
84 
250 

2016
£000 
73
164
       180                   150

       514 

        387

GROUP – AS LESSOR
Gross property rental income earned in the year amounted to £5,515,000 (2016, £4,994,000). At the Balance Sheet 
date, the Group had contracted with its tenants for the following future minimum lease payments:

Within one year  . 
. 
In two – ive years exclusively  . 
. 
After ive years  . 

. 

. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

5,528 
13,650 
    7,708 

  26,886 

5,301
12,820
     6,634 

   24,755

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 

69

68

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

29. 

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

(a) SUBSIDIARIES 
Transactions  between  the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries,  which  are  related  parties  of  the  Company,  have  been 
eliminated on consolidation. Details of transactions between the Company and Subsidiaries are as follows: 

SUBSIDIARY 

McGowan and Company (Contractors) Limited  
Cramond Real Estate Company Limited 
Thomas Menzies (Builders) Limited 
. 
Concrete Products (Kirkcaldy) Limited 
. 
. 
C. & W. Assets Limited . 
. 
Smart Serviced Ofices Limited  

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

SUBSIDIARY 

McGowan and Company (Contractors) Limited 
Cramond Real Estate Company Limited 
Thomas Menzies (Builders) Limited 
. 
Concrete Products (Kirkcaldy) Limited 
. 
C. & W. Assets Limited . 
. 
. 
Smart Serviced Ofices Limited  

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

2017 
£000 

2016 
£000 

Sale of goods 
 and services 

2017 
£000 

2016 
£000 
Purchase of goods 
     and services 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
.       

134 
– 
206 
36 
3,486 
           18 

134 
– 
72 
40 
2,455 
             – 

1,177 
– 
7 
38 
– 
           –  

1,357
– 
4
50
–
           –

Amounts owed 
by Subsidiaries 

Amounts owed 
to Subsidiaries 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
.       

– 
– 
24 
– 

– 
– 
9 
– 
       2,587          1,679 
             – 
         230 

59 
– 
– 
1 

118 
–
– 
– 
             –                – 
           –

           –  

The amounts outstanding are unsecured and will be settled for cash. No expense has been recognised in the year 
for bad or doubtful debts in respect of the amounts owed by Subsidiaries. 

(b) JOINT VENTURE COMPANIES

Transactions between the Group and its Joint Venture Companies were the receipt of interest on a loan to one of the 
joint venture companies of £5,000 (2016, £6,000), sale of materials and services of £1,000 (2016, £nil) and receipt 
of dividends of £nil (2016, £37,000).
The  Group  was  due  £2,000  (2016,  £3,000)  in  respect  of  the  loan  interest  charged  to  one  of  the  Joint  Venture 
Companies and £2,000 (2016, £nil) in respect of sale of materials and services. During the year the Group was 
repaid £nil (2016, £nil) of outstanding loans to Joint Venture Companies and advanced £1,000 (2016, £1,000) to 
Joint Venture Companies. 
As at 31st July 2017 loans outstanding from Joint Venture Companies amounted to £1,098,000 (2016, £1,097,000).
The amounts outstanding are unsecured and will be settled for cash.  No expense has been recognised in the year 
for bad or doubtful debts in respect of the amounts owed by Joint Venture Companies.

70

71

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) 

31st JULY 2017

29. 

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

(c) DIRECTORS’ INTEREST IN CONTRACTS 

John M Smart, David W Smart and John R Smart, throughout the year had material beneicial interests in Plean 
Precast Limited, Sterling Precast Limited and The Rooing and Building Supply Co. Limited, which have interests 
in continuing contracts for the purchase of materials and services from and for the sale of materials and services 
to the Group. 

During the year to 31st July 2017 the Group purchased materials amounting to £315,000 (2016, £311,000) from 
these companies and sold materials and services amounting to £198,000 (2016, £55,000) to these companies. 

All transactions were at normal commercial rates.

As  at  31st  July  2017  the  Group  owed  these  companies  £51,000  (2016,  £9,000)  and  was  owed  £6,000  (2016, 
£33,000).

(d) DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION 

The remuneration of the Directors, who are the only key management of the Company, is set out in note 4 to the 
Accounts with further information contained in the audited part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report.

(e) DIRECTORS’ DIVIDENDS 

During the year the Directors received dividends from the Company as follows: 

. 
John M Smart 
. 
David W Smart 
. 
John R Smart 
Alasdair H Ross  . 
Patricia Sweeney . 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

(f) DIRECTORS’ TRANSACTIONS 

2017 
£000 
11 
113 
113 
3 
– 

The following Directors received goods and services from Group Companies in the year amounting to:
John M Smart 
. 
David W Smart 
. 
. 
John R Smart 
Alasdair H Ross  . 
Patricia Sweeney . 

3 
1 
2 
– 
– 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

. 
. 
. 
. 
. 

2016
£000
11
109
109
3
–

2
2
1
8
–

All transactions were at normal commercial rates.

(g) PENSION SCHEMES

Disclosures in relation to the pension schemes are included in note 26 to the Accounts.

During the year the Company paid fees and expenses on behalf of the deined beneit pension scheme amounting 
to £169,000 (2016, £33,000).

70

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